骨骼 (gǔ gé) — skeleton; bones (collectively) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Formal/anatomical term for the whole skeleton or the bone system. 骨头 is the everyday word for an individual bone, while 骨架 focuses on the framework of a person, animal, or building.

noun

skeletonbones (collectively)

Examples

骨骼。
Tā de gǔ gé zài shì gù zhōng yán zhòng shòu sǔn.
His skeleton was severely damaged in the accident.
骨骼。
gǔ gé Bǎo hù zhe rén tǐ de zhòng yào qì guān.
The skeleton protects the body's vital organs.
骨骼。
Kǎo gǔ xué jiā fā xiàn le yí jù wán zhěng de kǒng lóng gǔ gé.
Archaeologists discovered a complete dinosaur skeleton.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

骼géskeleton

骨 and 骼 both refer to bones, so together they name the whole bony structure.

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

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.

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

骨各骼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

骨骨gǔbone

Sound part声符shēngfú

各

Same sound today

The left part 骨 means bone, and the right part 各 gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Organs & Anatomy

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