骨
skeleton, bone, remains, frame
Readings
On'yomi
- コツ
Kun'yomi
- ほね
Meaning
骨 centers on the hard structural parts of a body: bones and skeletons. It extends naturally to the framework or core of something, and to remains after death.
Most common words using 骨
20 of 449- 骨ほねN4
bone
- 骨折こっせつN3
bone fracture
- 骨こつN2
knack; skill; trick; secret; know-how; the ropes; hang
- 骨格こっかく
skeleton; skeletal structure; build; frame; physique
- 骨盤こつばん
pelvis
- 骨董こっとう
antique; curio
- 露骨ろこつN1
open; unconcealed; undisguised; blatant; plain; frank
- 遺骨いこつ
cremated remains (esp. the bones); ashes
- 背骨せぼねN1
spine; backbone; spinal column
- 頭蓋骨ずがいこつ
skull; cranium
- 鎖骨さこつ
collarbone; clavicle
- 肋骨あばらぼね
rib
- 軟骨なんこつ
cartilage
- 豚骨とんこつ
pork bones
- 骨髄こつずい
bone marrow; medulla
- 鉄骨てっこつN1
steel frame; steel beam; steel girder
- 白骨はっこつ
white (bleached) bone; skeleton
- 骸骨がいこつN1
skeleton
- 骨抜きほねぬき
boning (fish or meat); deboning
- 整骨せいこつ
bonesetting
Study
Etymology
骨 is a pictograph of a bone or skeleton. The modern form retains a stylized top representing the bone shape and a bottom derived from 肉 (flesh), emphasizing the bodily context.
Meaning mnemonic
The top part 冎 looks like a joint or bone structure, and the bottom ⺼ is flesh. Together they show the hard parts inside the body: bones and skeleton.
Reading mnemonic
For コツ, imagine a skeleton that is all hard bits and pieces: the word 'cots' (like 'cots' in 'apricots') sounds like コツ, and the skeleton is made of many small bone bits.