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刺骨 (cì gǔ) — (of cold) piercing; bone-chilling; bitterly cold

Definition

Used almost exclusively for cold that pierces into the bone — a more literary, intensifying image than 冰天雪地, which describes the whole icy landscape. Not used for sharp blades or pointed remarks like 尖锐.

verb
(of cold) piercingbone-chillingbitterly cold

Examples

  • 刺骨，。
    Běi fāng de dōng tiān hán fēng cì gǔ, chū mén yí dìng yào dài shǒu tào.
    In northern winters, the wind is bone-chilling, and you must wear gloves when going out.
  • 刺骨，。
    Hú lǐ de shuǐ bīng lěng cì gǔ, méi rén gǎn xià qù yóu yǒng.
    The lake water is freezing cold – no one dares to go swimming.
  • 刺骨，。
    Qīng chén de wēn dù cì gǔ, tā guǒ jǐn le wài tào kuài bù zǒu qù chē zhàn.
    The morning temperature was biting cold; he wrapped his coat tightly and hurried to the station.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

刺cìprick
骨gǔbone

刺 and 骨 combine as prick plus bone, conveying cold or pain that seems to pierce to the bone.

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
刂Written in full as刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
朿
朿cì刺cì
Same sound today

刺 pairs 刂 (knife) with 朿, which gives the sound; the knife part fits actions like stabbing or pricking.

Open 刺 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Weather

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