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Kotomora

骨

skeleton, bone, remains, frame

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes10

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

Explore all words using 骨 →

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.