背せ骨ぼね

せ

ぼ

ね

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Refers to the physical spine or backbone in humans and animals. Also used figuratively for the core or backbone of something.

猫ねこの背せ骨ぼねをそっと撫なでた。
I gently stroked the cat's spine.
この計けい画かくの背せ骨ぼねとなる部ぶ分ぶんを説せつ明めいします。
I will explain the part that forms the backbone of this plan.

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Usage patterns

背せ骨ぼねが曲まがるone's spine curves/bends
年ねんを取とると背せ骨ぼねが曲まがることがある。
As people age, their spine can become curved.
背せ骨ぼねを伸のばすto straighten one's spine/back
深しん呼こ吸きゅうをして背せ骨ぼねを伸のばした。
I took a deep breath and straightened my spine.
背せ骨ぼねを痛いためるto injure/hurt one's spine
転ころんで背せ骨ぼねを痛いためてしまった。
I fell and hurt my spine.
〈事こと〉の背せ骨ぼねとなるto serve as the backbone/core of something
その理り念ねんが会かい社しゃの背せ骨ぼねとなっている。
That philosophy serves as the backbone of the company.

Kanji

背stature, height, back
骨skeleton, bone, remains
脊stature, height, spine

Related words

脊せき椎つい
脊椎 is the precise medical/anatomical term for the spine or a vertebra, while 背骨 is the common everyday word for the backbone.
脊せき柱ちゅう
脊柱 is a formal anatomical term for the whole spinal column, whereas 背骨 is the ordinary word people use in daily speech.
バックボーン
背骨 is the everyday word for the physical spine and can extend metaphorically to inner strength, while バックボーン is used more often for abstract emotional or organizational support and network infrastructure.
背せ筋すじ
背骨 is the anatomical term for the actual backbone/vertebral column, while 背筋 refers more to the visible line or posture of the back.

Don't confuse with

腰こし骨ぼね
腰骨 refers to the hip bone/pelvic area, while 背骨 refers to the spine running along the back, so the two name different bones despite both containing 骨.

Counted with

本ほんN5
book; volume; script · this; present; current; in question · main; head; principal · real; genuine; regular; proper · counter for long cylindrical objects; counter for films, TV shows, etc.; counter for goals, home runs, etc.; counter for telephone calls

Built from

背せ+骨ほね

Written forms

背せ骨ぼねUsage99%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
せぼねUsage1%
脊せ骨ぼねUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Etymology

Compound of 背 (se, 'back') and 骨 (hone, 'bone'), with rendaku voicing of hone to bone. The kanji 脊 is an alternative character for 'spine' but is rarely used in modern Japanese.