脊

jǐ

spine, backbone; mountain ridge

Meaning

  • Anatomical: The spine or vertebral column; refers specifically to the structural, skeletal axis of the body.
  • Geographical: A mountain ridge, crest, or watershed; denotes a narrow, linear prominence rather than a general hill or peak.

Grammar and usage

  • Functions almost exclusively as a noun. Often serves as a spatial anchor in descriptive passages to establish a longitudinal or vertical axis for the scene.

Distinctions

  • 脊 vs. 背: While both can be translated as "back," 背 refers to the back as a surface area or general region, whereas 脊 refers specifically to the hard, linear core (the vertebrae).

Graphical notes

  • The glyph consists of 骨 (bone) and 尺 (ruler/measure), emphasizing the linear nature of the object. In cursive or shorthand scripts, be alert for simplifications of the 骨 component.

Translator notes

  • Contrast with 骨: While 骨 often carries connotations of strength or integrity (骨氣), 脊 is more specifically concerned with alignment and structural support—the element that prevents collapse. Use caution when attributing moral qualities to 脊 unless the context explicitly supports a metaphor of "uprightness."

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.