() — (bound form) rib

Definition

Bound form meaning 'rib' — never used alone, it always appears as part of a compound like 肋骨. Pronounced lèi (not lē) when combined.

bound form
rib

Examples

  • Wǒ de lē gǔ bù xiǎo xīn duàn le.
    I accidentally broke my rib.
  • Tā dǎ quán de shí hou shāng dào le liǎng lē.
    He injured both ribs when boxing.
  • Yī shēng ràng wǒ pāi le yì zhāng lē gǔ de zhào piàn.
    The doctor told me to get an X-ray of my ribs.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
ròumeat; body part
Sound part声符shēngfú
lèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

肋 puts 肉 (body part) beside 力, which gives the sound.

Appears in

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