铁骨 (tiě gū) — unyielding character, indomitable spirit; (pott…

Definition

Literary noun for an 'iron will' — unyielding, indomitable spirit. Used in writing to praise a person's toughness, often paired with 铮铮.

noun

unyielding characterindomitable spirit(pottery) dark-colored porcelain body

铁骨，。
Tā yì shēng tiě gū, cóng bú xiàng kùn nan dī tóu.
He had an unyielding character all his life and never bowed to difficulties.
铮铮铁骨，。
Zhè wèi jiāng jūn de zhēng zhēng tiě gū, lìng rén jìng pèi.
This general's iron will is admirable.
铁骨，。
Zhè zhǒng cí qì de tiě gū chéng shēn huī sè, zhì dì jiān yìng.
The body of this porcelain is dark gray and hard in texture.

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.

铁 means iron and 骨 means bone; the phrase names bones of iron, then an unyielding spirit.

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 鐵; 铁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

𢧤

𢧤𢧤鐵tiě

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

The traditional form 鐵 pairs 金 (metal) with 𢧤 as a sound part; the simplified 铁 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.