肩

• Pinyin: jiān
• Hanzi breakdown: 肩 = 户 (door) + 月 (flesh/body), representing the shoulder joint

Meaning

Shoulder. The part of the body between the neck and arm.

Refers to the shoulder area of the body. Used in physical descriptions, medical contexts, and idioms. 肩膀 is the full form. Common in expressions about responsibility (肩负) and physical contact.

Examples

1. 长时间对着电脑工作，他的肩膀酸痛不已。 After working at the computer for a long time, his shoulders were extremely sore.
2. 她把头靠在他的肩上，静静地听着音乐。 She rested her head on his shoulder, quietly listening to the music.
3. 这个背包的肩带设计得很舒适，背起来不累。 This backpack's shoulder straps are designed very comfortably; it's not tiring to carry.

Usage Guide

Context: body, medical, daily life, emotional

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我的肩很疼。(My shoulder really hurts.)
• 他拍了拍我的肩。(He patted my shoulder.)

Don't Say

• 我肩了这个任务 (肩 is a noun; for 'shoulder responsibility,' use 肩负 as a verb)

Origin & History

Pictograph combining 月 (flesh/body radical) with a phonetic component, representing the shoulder.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal