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道Nihongo Path
骨

骨·bone

On-yomi
コツ
Kun-yomi
ほね

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

10 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
骨ほねbone
骨折こっせつa fracture
鉄骨てっこつsteel frame
背骨せぼねspine, backbone

Example sentences

  1. 魚の骨に気をつけてください。

    さかなのほねにきをつけてください。

    Please watch out for the fish bones.

  2. スキーで足を骨折しました。

    すきーであしをこっせつしました。

    I broke my leg skiing.

  3. 一人で引っ越すのは骨が折れる仕事だ。

    ひとりでひっこすのはほねがおれるしごとだ。

    Moving house on your own is back-breaking work.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 骨折 as *ほねおり; the medical word is こっせつ
  • Taking 骨が折れる literally — as an idiom it means 'to be hard work'

Memory aid

Picture it

A joint drawn on top with 月 (the flesh radical) below — bone inside the body.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 骨 mean?