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膂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
backbone, spinal columnn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, Very Hard
strengthunknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, Very Hard
backbone, spinal columnn, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, Very Hard
strengthunknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺼, Very Hard
(lü3)
primary
T3
  1. 1backbone, spinal column
  2. 2strength
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(lü3)

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.

Strokes14RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
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

(lü3)
primary
1backbone, spinal column
2strength
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 膂

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

Podcast: 膂

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 膂

Memory Mnemonic

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.

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.

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.

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 膂?

Decomposition of 膂

IDS Structure⿱旅⺼
Full Character
=
lü3
top
rou4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 膂?

Write 膂

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

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Cultural Notes for 膂

🏮Cultural insight

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.

Word Family of 膂

Words Containing This Character2
膂力strength
backbone
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 膂力 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 膂

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