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Connective tissues of the body, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. In early texts, these are generally not distinguished from one another. The term appears in three primary contexts: vital (strength and agility), medical (mobility and the flow of //qi//), and butchery (gristle or inedible connective tissue).

Contrasted with 肉 (//ròu//, flesh) in terms of tensile strength and fibrous quality versus bulk and mass. In certain contexts, the term refers to a functional state—such as stiffness, flexibility, or contraction—rather than simply the anatomical structure.

Avoid modern anatomical terms that may be too narrow; "muscle" can imply bulk while "tendon" may be overly specific. Depending on the register, consider using "sinews," "fibers," or "cords."