Chinese Character: 肩
1. Character Basics
Radical: 户/hù radical (door, household)
Stroke Count: 8
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiān
Pronunciation Note: Pronounced with a high and level tone (first tone).
3. Meaning
shoulder, shoulder to shoulder, take on, bear, take responsibility
4. Common Words
- 肩膀 (jiānbǎng) - shoulder - The part of the body between the neck and the arm
- 肩负 (jiānfù) - shoulder, take on - To take on a responsibility
- 双肩 (shuāngjiān) - both shoulders - Referring to the two shoulders
- 肩负重任 (jiānfù zhòngrèn) - shoulder heavy responsibilities - To take on important tasks
- 并肩 (bìngjiān) - side by side, shoulder to shoulder - Together, alongside
- 擦肩 (cājiān) - brush shoulders - To pass each other closely
5. Grammar & Usage
1. As a noun: "肩" is most commonly used as a noun meaning shoulder, as in "肩膀" (shoulder).
2. As a verb: It can be used as a verb meaning to shoulder or take on, as in "肩负重任" (shoulder heavy responsibilities).
3. In compounds: "肩" is often part of compound words related to carrying or supporting, as in "肩负" (take on) or "并肩" (side by side).
4. In idioms: It appears in various idiomatic expressions that convey the idea of support or shared responsibility.
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the concept of "肩" (shoulder) carries significant symbolic meaning. It is often used to represent responsibility, support, and burden-sharing. Phrases like "肩负重任" (shoulder heavy responsibilities) reflect the cultural value of taking on obligations to family, society, and the nation. The character "肩" also appears in expressions related to cooperation and unity, such as "并肩作战" (fight shoulder to shoulder), emphasizing the importance of working together. In traditional Chinese medicine, the shoulder is considered an important area of the body, with various acupuncture points related to shoulder health.
7. Example Sentence
他肩负着家庭的重任。
Pinyin: Tā jiānfù zhe jiātíng de zhòngrèn.
Translation: He shoulders the heavy responsibilities of the family.
8. Memory Tips
The character "肩" is composed of the radical "户" (door) and the component "月" (moon/flesh). In Chinese characters, "月" is often used to indicate body parts. You can remember this character by visualizing a door (户) with a flesh/muscle part (月) representing the shoulder, which is the part of the body that supports and carries things. The character has 8 strokes, so practice writing it carefully to master the stroke order.