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脊梁 (jǐ liáng) — spine, backbone; (figurative) backbone, mainstay, pillar

Definition

Literally the spine, but mostly used figuratively for the moral or national 'backbone' (e.g. 国家的脊梁). Compared to 骨干, it emphasizes a group's core spirit rather than its key personnel.

noun
spinebackbone(figurative) backbonemainstaypillar
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • ，脊梁。
    Tā shuāi dǎo le, shāng dào le jǐ liáng.
    He fell and injured his spine.
  • 脊梁。
    Zhè xiē kē xué jiā shì guó jiā de jǐ liáng.
    These scientists are the backbone of the country.
  • 脊梁，。
    Tā tǐng qǐ jǐ liáng, miàn duì kùn nan.
    He straightened his backbone and faced difficulties.

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jǐback/spine
梁liángbeam

In 脊梁, 脊 points to the back/spine, while 梁 gives the beam-like form, meaning the spine or backbone.

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract ConceptsBody Parts

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