Definition
骨瘦如柴 is a four-character idiom (成语) that literally means 'bones as thin as firewood.' It describes a person who is extremely thin, almost skeletal — equivalent to English 'a bag of bones' or 'skin and bones.' Commonly used as a predicate or complement after verbs like 变得 (become) or 瘦得 (so thin that). Use it to emphasize severe emaciation, often from illness or hardship.
f.e.
emaciatedas thin as a rakelike a bag of bones
Examples
- 骨瘦如柴，。Tā shēngbìng zhīhòu shòu de gǔ shòu rú chái, ràng rén kàn le hěn xīnténg.After his illness he became so thin — like a bag of bones — that it pained people to see him.
- 骨瘦如柴。Nàge jīhuāng ràng cūn lǐ hěnduō rén biàn dé gǔ shòu rú chái.That famine left many villagers emaciated, skin and bones.
- ，骨瘦如柴。Jīngguò jǐ gè yuè de xīnkǔ láozuò, tā biàn dé gǔ shòu rú chái.After months of hard labor, he became as thin as a rake.
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