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骨子里 (gǔ zi lǐ) — deep down, at heart, in one's innermost feelings

Definition

Refers to someone's true, hidden nature or feelings, often contradicting what they show on the surface (e.g. 骨子里看不起). Use it for a person's innate character, not for literal location.

noun
deep downat heartin one's innermost feelings

Examples

  • ，骨子里。
    Tā biǎo miàn shàng hěn kè qi, gǔ zi lǐ què kàn bù qǐ bié rén.
    He is polite on the surface, but deep down he looks down on others.
  • ，骨子里。
    Suī rán tā méi shuō, dàn gǔ zi lǐ lǐ tā bìng bú zàn tóng zhè ge jì huà.
    Although she didn't say it, deep down she didn't agree with this plan.
  • 骨子里。
    Wǒ gǔ zi lǐ lǐ yì zhí bù xiāng xìn tā huì zuò chū zhè zhǒng shì.
    Deep down I never believed he would do such a thing.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

骨子core
骨gǔbone子zǐ
里lǐinside

'骨子' gives the core and '里' gives inside, together suggesting deep down.

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 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

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 裡; 里 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 里 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (里, 里面) it is 裡; in others (公里) it is 里 or 裏.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ裡lǐ
Same sound today

The form 裡 pairs 衤 (clothes) with 里 as a sound component.

Open 里 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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