肋骨 (lèi gǔ) — rib | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

rib

Measure word · 根

Examples

肋骨，。
Yī shēng jiǎn chá le tā de lèi gǔ, fā xiàn méi yǒu gǔ zhé.
The doctor examined his ribs and found no fracture.
肋骨。
Zhū de lèi gǔ kě yǐ yòng lái zuò pái gǔ tāng.
Pig ribs can be used to make rib soup.
，肋骨。
Pǎo bù de shí hou, tā gǎn dào yòu cè lèi gǔ yǒu diǎn téng.
When running, he felt a little pain in his right ribs.

Origin

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.

“肋” names the rib and “骨” means bone, so together they refer to a rib 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

肉肉ròumeat; body part

Sound part声符shēngfú

力

力lì肋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.

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.

Appears in

Organs & Anatomy

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