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入骨 (rù gū) — (figurative) to the marrow; deeply ingrained; to penetrate to the bone

Definition

Used figuratively to describe a feeling (love, hatred, pain) that has sunk deep into one's bones and is impossible to shake off. Intensifier pattern: 'X已入骨' means X has taken permanent, marrow-deep hold.

verb
(figurative) to the marrowdeeply ingrainedto penetrate to the bone

Examples

  • 入骨，。
    Tā duì tā de ài yǐ jīng rù gū, wú fǎ wàng jì.
    His love for her has penetrated to the bone — he can't forget her.
  • 入骨，。
    Zhè zhǒng chóu hèn rù gū, yí bèi zi dōu bú huì xiāo shī.
    This hatred is deeply ingrained; it won't disappear in a lifetime.
  • ，。
    Nà fèn tòng kǔ yǐ jīng rù dào le gǔ zi lǐ, yǒng yuǎn wú fǎ mǒ qù.
    That pain has penetrated into the bones and can never be erased.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

入rùenter
骨gǔbone

入 (enter) combines with 骨 (bone) to mean penetrate to the bone.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

入 is drawn as an arrowhead, indicating 'to enter'.

Open 入 →

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 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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