noun
thin inner ribs of a folding fan
Refers to the slender inner sticks of a folding fan (扇子), as opposed to the outer thicker guard sticks (親骨). Used in contexts of fan making, repair, or description.
See also: 親骨 (おやぼね)
扇子の子骨が一本折れてしまった。
One of the thin inner ribs of the folding fan broke.
この扇子は子骨の数が多いので、広げるととてもきれいです。
This folding fan has many inner ribs, so it looks very beautiful when opened.
親骨 are the thicker outer guard sticks of a folding fan, while 子骨 are the thinner inner ribs.
Compound of 子 (こ, 'child; small') and 骨 (ほね, 'bone; rib'), literally 'child ribs', referring to the smaller inner ribs of a folding fan.