骴 (cī) - Carrion & decaying bones

骴Tone 1

cī ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

骴 · cī

Carrion;

decaying bones;

skeleton;

remains of the dead.

Carriondecaying bonesskeleton

Usage highlights

skeletal remainsexposed boneshuman bonesanimal bonesbone fragmentsancient bones

Synonyms

  • 骨— bone (general term)
  • 骸— skeleton, bones of the body
  • 尸骨— skeletal remains

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The forensic team examined the skeletal remains (尸骴).
  • Archaeologists discovered ancient bones (骴骨) at the site.
  • They performed rites for the exposed bones (暴骴).

Collocations

  • skeletal remains(尸骴)
  • exposed bones(暴骴)
  • human bones(人骴)
  • animal bones(兽骴)
  • bone fragments(骴骨)
  • ancient bones(古骴)

Idioms

  • Exposed bones bleaching in the sun(暴骴)
  • Unburied bones scattered in the wild(野骴)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, proper burial was crucial for ancestor veneration and maintaining cosmic harmony.
  • Exposed bones (暴骴) were considered inauspicious and required ritual purification and reburial.
  • The character appears in classical medical and forensic texts describing skeletal remains.

FAQ