脊
stature, height, spine
Readings
On'yomi
- セキ
Kun'yomi
- せ
- せい
Meaning
脊 centers on the central structural line of the body: the spine or backbone. The meanings of stature and height extend naturally from the spine as the body's vertical support.
Most common words using 脊
20 of 46- 脊髄せきずい
spinal cord
- 脊椎せきつい
spine; vertebral column; spinal column; backbone
- 脊柱せきちゅう
spinal column; vertebral column; spine
- 脊椎動物せきついどうぶつ
vertebrate; vertebrates; vertebrata
- 二分脊椎にぶんせきつい
spina bifida
- 二分脊椎症にぶんせきついしょう
spina bifida
- 強直性脊椎炎きょうちょくせいせきついえん
ankylosing spondylitis
- 急性散在性脳脊髄炎きゅうせいさんざいせいのうせきずいえん
acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; ADEM
- 日本二分脊椎協会にっぽんにぶんせきついきょうかい
Spina Bifida Association of Japan
- 無脊椎動物むせきついどうぶつ
invertebrate; invertebrates; invertebrata
- 筋痛性脳脊髄炎きんつうせいのうせきずいえん
myalgic encephalomyelitis; ME
- 脊柱側湾症せきちゅうそくわんしょう
scoliosis
- 脊柱前弯症せきちゅうぜんわんしょう
lordosis
- 脊柱後弯症せきちゅうこうわんしょう
kyphosis
- 脊柱管せきちゅうかん
spinal canal
- 脊柱管狭窄症せきちゅうかんきょうさくしょう
spinal canal stenosis
- 脊梁せきりょう
mountain range; mountain backbone
- 脊椎カリエスせきついカリエス
Pott's disease; vertebral tuberculosis; spinal caries
- 脊椎側湾症せきついそくわんしょう
scoliosis
- 脊椎動物亜門せきついどうぶつあもん
Vertebrata
Study
Etymology
脊 is thought to combine 肉 (flesh, simplified to 月) with a phonetic element representing the spine. The exact historical development of the upper component is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The bottom 月 (flesh) supports the stacked upper part, like vertebrae stacked along the spine. Picture the whole character as a backbone giving the body stature and height.
Reading mnemonic
For セキ, imagine a tall person's spine being measured with a ruler marked in sections: each section (セキ) of the spine adds to their stature.