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膂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
膂lǚbackbone, spinal columnn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼
膂lǚstrengthunknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺼
膂lǚbackbone, spinal columnn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼
膂lǚstrengthunknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺼
lǚ(lv3)lv
primary
T3
  1. 1backbone, spinal column
  2. 2strength
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March 24, 2026

膂lǚ(lv3)

膂 (lǚ) refers to the backbone or spinal column, symbolizing strength and support in both a physical and metaphorical sense. This character is often used in contexts discussing physical strength, resilience, or foundational support, whether in a literal sense or in terms of character and determination.

Strokes14Radical⺼
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the backbone is viewed as crucial for overall health, and the concept of 'backbone' extends to personal integrity and moral strength in Chinese culture, emphasizing the value of resilience in character.

Memory tip

Imagine a sturdy spine made of 'lu' (sounds like 'loo'), supporting the entire body. Visualize a superhero standing tall with a strong backbone, ready to face any challenge. The radical '肉' (meat) hints at the character's association with physical strength.

Meanings of 膂

lǚ(lv3)
primary
1backbone, spinal column
2strength
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 膂

膂Simplified
14Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 膂

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Podcast: 膂

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AI study notes for 膂

Usage Notes

膂 is not commonly used in everyday conversation; it's more likely to appear in literary or formal contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and remember that it can convey both physical and metaphorical meanings. Common collocations include '膂力' (strength) and phrases discussing resilience.

HSK Study Tips

膂 is not included in the standard HSK vocabulary lists, but it can be useful for learners at higher levels interested in literature or historical texts. Focus on recognizing the character's components and understanding its metaphorical usage alongside other strength-related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 膂 with other characters like 肋 (lè) which means rib. A common mistake might be using 膂 to refer to general strength without the proper context; instead, ensure to specify it relates to the backbone or resilience.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 膂

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Etymology of 膂

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

flesh

Semantic (meaning)⺼
+
Phonetic (sound)旅
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

膂 = ⺼ + 旅. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 膂

IDS Structure⿱旅⺼
膂Full character
=
旅lü3
top
⺼rou4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 膂?

How to say backbone, spinal column in Chinese

“backbone, spinal column” in Chinese is膂lǚ

膂 (lǚ) refers to the backbone or spinal column, symbolizing strength and support in both a physical and metaphorical sense. This character is often used in contexts discussing physical strength, resilience, or foundational support, whether in a literal sense or in terms of character and determination.

When to use 膂

膂 is not commonly used in everyday conversation; it's more likely to appear in literary or formal contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and remember that it can convey both physical and metaphorical meanings. Common collocations include '膂力' (strength) and phrases discussing resilience.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 膂 with other characters like 肋 (lè) which means rib. A common mistake might be using 膂 to refer to general strength without the proper context; instead, ensure to specify it relates to the backbone or resilience.

Write 膂

膂

Practice writing 膂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 膂

Words containing this character2
膂力strength
膂lǚbackbone
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 膂

What does 膂力 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 膂

The correct pronunciation is 'lǚ', with a rising tone.

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