椎 (chuí) - Vertebra & spine

椎Tone 2

chuí ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

志

椎 · chuí

Vertebra;

spine;

mallet;

hammer;

to beat;

to strike;

also refers to something dull or stupid.

Vertebraspinemallet

Usage highlights

VertebraCervical vertebraLumbar vertebraThoracic vertebraSpinal cordMallet

Synonyms

  • 脊— spine, backbone
  • 锤— hammer, mallet

Antonyms

  • 智— wisdom, intelligence (antonym to the 'dull' sense)
  • 敏— quick, sharp (antonym to the 'dull' sense)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He has a cervical vertebra problem (颈椎问题).
  • The hammer is used for striking (椎子).
  • Archaeologists found dinosaur vertebrae (恐龙椎骨).
  • He was criticized for being dull-witted (愚椎).

Collocations

  • Vertebra(椎骨)
  • Cervical vertebra(颈椎)
  • Lumbar vertebra(腰椎)
  • Thoracic vertebra(胸椎)
  • Spinal cord(椎髓)
  • Mallet(椎子)

Idioms

  • Ten vertebral columns(十椎)
  • To strike with a mallet(椎击)
  • Dull and stupid(椎鲁)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, vertebrae are crucial for qi flow and overall health.
  • The character appears in both anatomical and tool-related contexts, showing dual usage.
  • In historical texts, '椎' sometimes described simple, blunt tools or personalities.

FAQ