脊梁骨 (jǐ liang gǔ) — spine, backbone (the bone structure); (figurative) backbone, main support of a group or enterprise

Definition

Literally 'spine', this word extends figuratively to mean the backbone or main support of a group, enterprise, or nation — emphasizing what holds everything upright.

noun
spinebackbone (the bone structure)(figurative) backbone, main support of a group or enterprise
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • ，脊梁骨。
    Tā bù xiǎo xīn shuāi le yì jiāo, shuāi duàn le jǐ liang gǔ.
    He accidentally fell and broke his spine.
  • 脊梁骨。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī de jǐ liang gǔ shì yán fā tuán duì.
    The backbone of this company is the R&D team.
  • 脊梁骨。
    Lǎo yí bèi de fèn dòu jīng shén shì wǒ men mín zú de jǐ liang gǔ.
    The fighting spirit of the older generation is the backbone of our nation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

脊梁backbone
脊jǐspine梁liángbeam
联合Side by side
骨gǔbone

脊梁 names the backbone, and 骨 marks it as the bone that supports the body.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròuflesh
Sound part声符shēngfú
朿
朿cì脊jǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The original drawing of 脊 showed a fish spine; later 肉 (flesh) was added to point to the meaning, while the upper 朿 part supplied the sound.

Open 脊 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
刅
刅chuāng梁Liáng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

梁 pairs 水 (water) and 木 (wood) to show a bridge, with 刅 giving the sound.

Open 梁 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
肉肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
冎
冎guǎ骨gǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The older form 冎 drew a bone; 肉, flesh, was added to make 骨.

Open 骨 →

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