内骨骼 (nèi gǔ gé) — endoskeleton | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

endoskeleton

内骨骼。
Xǔ duō dòng wù dōu yǒu nèi gǔ gé.
Many animals have an endoskeleton.
内骨骼。
nèi gǔ gé Wèi shēn tǐ tí gōng zhī chēng hé bǎo hù.
The endoskeleton provides support and protection for the body.
内骨骼。
Rén lèi de nèi gǔ gé yóu gǔ tou zǔ chéng.
The human endoskeleton is made up of bones.

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.

骨骼skeleton

骨gǔbone骼géskeleton

联合Side by side

内 means inside, while 骨 and 骼 together mean skeleton, so the word denotes an internal skeleton.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape shows 入 entering into 冂, a house, so it pictures bringing something indoors, giving the sense inside.

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.