骨

• Reading: ほね
• Romaji: hone
• Kanji breakdown: 骨 (hone/kotsu) — bone
• Pronunciation: /ho.ne/

Meaning

Bone. The hard tissue forming the skeleton of the body.

A basic noun with the kun-reading ほね. Also used figuratively to mean the core or framework of something, or to describe something demanding effort (骨が折れる = to be laborious). Common compound: 骨折 (fracture).

Examples

1. スポーツ中に足の骨を折ってしまった。 I broke a bone in my foot during sports.
2. 魚を食べるとき、骨に気をつけてください。 Be careful of the bones when eating fish.
3. カルシウムは骨を強くするのに大切です。 Calcium is important for keeping your bones strong.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, daily life, food

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 骨 depicts the skeletal structure of the body. It is one of the Kangxi radicals used in many body-related characters.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal