Phrase guide

oracle bone script

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The set of incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones used in divination during Bronze Age China.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Coined by American missionary Frank Herring Chalfant in 1906.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 甲骨文 (jiǎgǔwén) — incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
  • Finnish: oraakkeliluukirjoitus — incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
  • French: écriture ossécaille — incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
  • Indonesian: aksara tulang ramalan — incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
  • Japanese: 甲骨文字 (kōkotsumoji) — incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
  • Japanese: 亀甲獣骨文字 (kikkō-jūkotsu-moji) — incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
  • Korean: 갑골문자 (gapgolmunja) — incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
  • Russian: цзягувэ́нь (czjaguvɛ́nʹ) — incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones