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骨气 (gǔ qì) — unyielding moral character; integrity; backbone (esp. in the face of adversity)

Definition

骨气 is moral backbone — refusing to compromise under pressure or temptation. Unlike 诚信 (keeping promises / honesty) or 志气 (ambition and drive), 骨气 names personal resilience in the face of pressure.

noun
unyielding moral characterintegritybackbone (esp. in the face of adversity)

Examples

  • ，骨气，。
    Tā suī rán qióng, dàn hěn yǒu gǔ qì, cóng bú xiàng bié rén dī tóu.
    Although he is poor, he has great moral integrity and never bows to others.
  • 骨气，。
    Zài qiáng quán miàn qián bǎo chí gǔ qì, cái néng yíng dé zhēn zhèng de zūn zhòng.
    Only by maintaining your backbone in the face of power can you earn genuine respect.
  • 骨气，。
    Tā shì yí wèi yǒu gǔ qì de nǚ xìng, jué bù wéi le lì yì chū mài péng you.
    She is a woman of integrity who would never betray a friend for profit.

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.

骨gǔbone
气qìspirit

骨 (bone) and 气 (spirit) form the image of backbone-like spirit, meaning integrity.

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 →

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Personality & Traits

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