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刻骨铭心 (kè gǔ míng xīn) — unforgettable, deeply engraved in one's heart (idiom); often describes profound gratitude, love, or painful memories

Definition

An idiom meaning so deeply felt it seems carved into bone and engraved on the heart — used for profound love, gratitude, or hatred that will never be forgotten. Functions as an adjective; can modify a noun (刻骨铭心的爱情) or be used predicatively.

noun
unforgettabledeeply engraved in one's heart (idiom)often describes profound gratitude, love, or painful memories

Examples

  • 刻骨铭心。
    Tā duì wǒ de bāng zhù ràng wǒ kè gǔ míng xīn.
    His help to me left an unforgettable impression on my heart.
  • 刻骨铭心。
    Nà duàn kè gǔ míng xīn de ài qíng jīng lì tā yǒng yuǎn wàng bù liǎo.
    That unforgettable love story he will never forget.
  • 刻骨铭心。
    Zhè fèn kè gǔ míng xīn de chóu hèn cáng zài xīn dǐ hěn duō nián.
    This deeply engraved hatred was hidden in the heart for many years.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

刻骨engrave on bones
刻kèengrave骨gǔbone
动宾Verb + object
铭心inscribe on heart
铭mínginscribe心xīnheart
动宾Verb + object

The phrase pairs 刻骨, engraving on the bones, with 铭心, inscribing on the heart, for a memory deeply felt.

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dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
亥
亥hài刻kè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刻 is made of 刂, a form of 刀 (knife), and 亥, which gives the sound.

Open 刻 →

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 銘; 铭 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 銘 has 金 (metal) and 名 (name), and refers to engraving in metal; the simplified 铭 is a later shorthand.

Open 铭 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 心 comes from a drawing of a heart, now highly stylized.

Open 心 →
Appears in
Emotions & FeelingsIdioms & Set Phrases

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