骨
skeleton · bone · remains · frame
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Pictograph of bone.
Symbolism
Skeleton, fracture, antique. Represents bones.
Component Breakdown
top-bottom: 冎 + moon
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
彫心鏤骨
ちょうしんるこつ
laborious work; lucubration; lucubrations
粉骨砕身
ふんこつさいしん
making one's best exertions
書画骨董
しょがこっとう
curios and objets d'art
換骨奪胎
かんこつだったい
adaptation (of a poem, novel, etc.); recasting; rewriting
骨肉相食
こつにくそうしょく
blood feud; domestic discord
人品骨柄
じんぴんこつがら
personal appearance and physique; person's appearance and physique giving a feeling of respectable character
気骨稜々
きこつりょうりょう
(a person with) strong moral fiber (backbone, determination)
乱離骨灰
らりこっぱい
being scattered in all directions; being broken up and dispersed
哀毀骨立
あいきこつりつ
losing weight and becoming bony because of grief
Proverbs & Idioms
骨折り損のくたびれ儲け
ほねおりぞんのくたびれもうけ
Breaking bones for nothing but fatigue
Working hard with no reward
骨身に染みる
ほねみにしみる
To feel in one's bones
To feel deeply
Anime & Manga
骸骨騎士様、只今異世界へお出掛け中
Skeleton Knight in Another World
A well-known work with 骨 in its Japanese title.
博多豚骨ラーメンズ
Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens
A well-known work with 骨 in its Japanese title.
骨が腐るまで
Until Your Bones Rot
A well-known work with 骨 in its Japanese title.
透明人間の骨
Invisible
A well-known work with 骨 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
“bone”
“remains”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 骨 mean in Japanese?
骨 means skeleton, bone, remains, frame.
How do you read 骨?
On'yomi: コツ (KOTSU). Kun'yomi: ほね (hone).
How many strokes does 骨 have?
骨 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 骨 (bone).
Is 骨 a good kanji for a tattoo?
骨 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means skeleton, bone, remains, frame. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.