主心骨

zhǔxīngǔ
noun #34,791

Meanings

  1. 1 backbone
  2. 2 mainstay
  3. 3 pillar (of support)
  4. 4 one's own firm judgment

Examples

HSK 1
Bàba shì wǒmen jiā de zhǔxīngǔ.
Dad is the backbone of our family.
HSK 4
Yùdào shìqing tā zǒngshì méiyǒu zhǔxīngǔ.
Whenever something happens, she has no firm judgment of her own.

Tips

memory
Literally 'main-heart-bone' - the central spine that holds someone or a group together. Use it both for the person who keeps a team steady and for an individual's inner conviction.

Stroke Order

zhǔ
xīn