桡骨 (ráo gǔ) — radius (bone of the forearm)

Definition

noun

radius (bone of the forearm)

Measure word · 块

桡骨。
Tā de ráo gǔ gǔ zhé le.
His radius is fractured.
桡骨。
ráo gǔ Shì qián bì liǎng gēn cháng gǔ zhī yī.
The radius is one of the two long bones of the forearm.
桡骨X。
Yī shēng gěi tā de ráo gǔ pāi le X guāng piàn.
The doctor took an X-ray of her radius.

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.

桡ráoradius

桡 refers to the radius and 骨 is bone, giving the radius 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 橈; 桡 is its simplified writing.

木堯橈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

堯

堯yáo橈náo

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 橈 combines 木, indicating wood, with 堯 as a sound component; the simplified 桡 is a later shorthand.

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.