Translation guide
The hard parts inside a body that form the skeleton. Also used in expressions about the core of something, or to describe something very difficult.
The hard, rigid organ that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates.
The general word for bone in the body. Can refer to a single bone or bones collectively.
犬が骨をかじっている。
The dog is gnawing on a bone.
転んで骨を折った。
I fell and broke a bone.
Bone used as a material (e.g., for tools, carving) or as a part of food (e.g., fish bones, chicken bones).
Same word as anatomical bone, but context makes it clear. Often used in cooking contexts.
この魚は骨が多い。
This fish has a lot of bones.
鶏の骨からスープをとる。
Make soup from chicken bones.
The most basic or important part of something; the underlying structure.
Literally 'bone structure', used for the framework of a building, plan, or argument.
計画の骨組みを説明してください。
Please explain the framework of the plan.
The main points or gist; often used in formal contexts like policy outlines.
Skeleton or framework; can be used for physical skeletons or abstract structures.
Describing a task or situation that requires great effort, like 'backbreaking work'.
An idiom meaning 'to be very difficult/troublesome', literally 'bones break'. Used for tasks that require a lot of effort.
この仕事は本当に骨が折れる。
This job is really backbreaking.
Attributive form of the idiom, used before nouns to describe something difficult.
骨の折れる作業だった。
It was a painstaking task.
Expressing that something affects you deeply or completely, as in 'chilled to the bone'.
Literally 'to the marrow of the bone', meaning thoroughly or to the core. Often used with verbs like 冷える (to feel cold) or 染みる (to soak in).
骨の髄まで冷え切った。
I was chilled to the bone.
A strong intuition or premonition.
Can also be used for deeply felt intuition, though more commonly for physical sensations.
彼の言葉が骨身に染みた。
His words sank deep into my bones.
The katakana word ボーン (bōn) is sometimes used in product names or as a loanword in specific contexts (e.g., 'bone conduction headphones' 骨伝導イヤホン, but not ボーン), but for the body part, always use 骨 (ほね). Using ボーン for a skeleton bone would sound unnatural.
I summarized the main points of the proposal.
組織の骨格を作る。
Build the framework of the organization.
To feel something keenly, often cold or kindness. Literally 'soak into bone and body'.
寒さが骨身に染みる。
The cold pierces me to the bone.