Definitions
elbow; pork shoulder
Etymology
Originally written similar to 九, which depicts an elbow. Later the ⺼ (meat, flesh) component was added.
About
The character "肘" for "elbow" is structured as a phono-semantic compound, combining the radical 月, a variant of 肉 denoting flesh or body parts, with the component 寸, which originally referred to a measurement point on the arm and likely provided phonetic association. This form has been consistently used to represent the elbow joint, with its components reflecting a conceptual link to the body's articulation. The primary meaning of "elbow" has remained stable throughout its history, though the character occasionally extends into derived contexts, such as in culinary terminology for certain meat cuts, without shifting its fundamental reference.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我的肘部有点疼。
小心别碰到他的肘。
他用手肘轻轻推了我一下。
医生检查了我的肘关节。
他摔了一跤肘部擦伤了。
网球运动员容易肘部受伤。
请保持肘部弯曲九十度。
这种护具能有效减轻肘部压力。