硬こう骨こつ

noun

bone; hard bone

Only when written 硬骨

Literal anatomical sense; refers to bone as a hard tissue. Often used in medical or biological contexts.

• 硬こう骨こつ組そ織しきの再さい生せいには時じ間かんがかかる。

  Regeneration of bone tissue takes time.

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective

firmness of character; backbone; unyielding spirit

Figurative use describing a person's strong, principled, and unyielding character. Often used in literary or formal contexts.

• 彼かれは硬こう骨こつの政せい治じ家かとして知しられている。

  He is known as a politician of unyielding integrity.

• 硬こう骨こつな態たい度どで交こう渉しょうに臨のぞんだ。

  He approached the negotiations with a firm attitude.