筋 jīn muscle
muscle; muscles; tendons; tendon
How to remember 筋: 𥫗 bamboo + 月 meat + 力 power = muscle. The old kung fu teacher bends a bamboo pole, eats a plate of meat for power and flexes his arms to show off his muscles.
Component breakdown
筋 = 𥫗 bamboo + 肋
- 𥫗 bamboo
- 肋
- 月 meat
- 力 power
The old kung fu teacher bends a bamboo pole, eats a plate of meat for power and flexes his arms to show off his muscles.
How it is used
- Tendon/sinew/muscle, and anything tough and stringy - 筋骨 (jīngǔ) muscles and bones, 抽筋 (chōujīn) a cramp, 牛筋 (niújīn) beef tendon, 钢筋 (gāngjīn) steel reinforcing bar.
- 伤脑筋 (shāngnǎojīn), 'to hurt the brain-tendon', means to be a headache/vexing problem; 脑筋 (nǎojīn) means one's brains/wits.