Definitions
(noun)
shoulder
(verb)
to shoulder (responsibilities)
Etymology
Originally a pictograph of a shoulder. Later the ⺼ (flesh) component was added.
About
The character for "shoulder", represented in both traditional and simplified forms by "肩", originates from a pictograph that depicted the shoulder and upper arm of a human body. This early form evolved structurally over time, stabilizing into a composition that combines the component representing a door panel or flat surface, which originally schematized the shoulder's contour, with the flesh radical "月" (a variant of 肉) added later to explicitly categorize the character within the semantic field of the body. Its core meaning has consistently referred to the physical shoulder joint, but this concrete sense naturally extended into verbal uses such as to shoulder a burden or to take on responsibility, reflecting the physical act of carrying weight. The character's form was not altered during the broader simplification process, remaining as a stable graphical unit that directly connects its modern structure to its etymological and functional origins.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我的肩膀很疼。
他拍了拍我的肩膀。
我需要按摩一下肩膀。
他肩负重要责任。
她的肩膀因为工作而酸痛。
尽管肩膀受伤，他仍然完成了任务。
在团队中，每个人都应该肩负起自己的职责。
通过长期的肩并肩合作，他们建立了深厚的友谊。