肩膀
How to Understand
肩 (jiān) means 'shoulder' and 膀 (bǎng) also refers to the shoulder or the area around it. Together, 肩膀 (jiān bǎng) specifically refers to the anatomical shoulder, emphasizing the upper part of the body where the arm connects to the torso.
The character 肩 is composed of 肉 (ròu, meat/flesh) and 丮 (jǐ, to lift), suggesting the physical structure and function of the shoulder. 膀 is made up of 肉 and 旁 (páng, side), indicating the side area of the body, which aligns with the shoulder region.
肩膀 is commonly used in everyday speech and writing, especially in contexts involving physical effort, support, or posture. It can also be used metaphorically, such as in phrases like 把责任扛在肩膀上 (to carry the responsibility on one's shoulders), meaning to take on a burden.