骨头

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 小狗喜欢啃骨头。▶ —
   Dogs like to gnaw on bones.
2. 他摔了一跤,差点摔断骨头。▶ —
   He fell and almost broke a bone.

Collocations

Mnemonic

骨 gǔ "bone" + 头 tou (a suffix): the bone that supports the body. 骨 is itself a radical. ① a physical bone (骨头很硬) ② figuratively, 硬骨头 = a tough, unyielding person. Forms the body with 肌肉 (muscle).

Related

Quick check

1. What does the figurative 硬骨头 mean?

   • a tough, unyielding person
   • just a literally hard bone
   • tasteless food
   • an old dog