Japanese symbol for “bones”
骨子
こっし
Romaji: kosshi
main point; gist; essentials; bones (e.g. of an idea)
In Japanese, bones is 骨子, read こっし (kosshi).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n main point; gist; essentials; bones (e.g. of an idea); pith
Kanji and stroke order
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 骨折 | こっせつ kossetsu | bone fracture |
| 露骨 | ろこつ rokotsu | open; unconcealed; undisguised |
| 鉄骨 | てっこつ tekkotsu | steel frame; steel beam; steel girder |
| 骨格 | こっかく kokkaku | skeleton; skeletal structure; build |
| 背骨 | せぼね sebone | spine; backbone; spinal column |
| 遺骨 | いこつ ikotsu | cremated remains (esp. the bones); ashes |
| 子供 | こども kodomo | child; children |
| 女子 | じょし joshi | woman; girl |
See also: Chinese symbol for “bones”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.