肩

The Chinese character 肩 (jiān) for "shoulder" is composed of two parts: ⺮ (gān) and 頁 (yè). ⺮ originally meant "a cliff" or "a steep slope", and it is often used to represent something high or prominent. 頁 originally meant "a head" or "a face", and it is often used to represent something important or essential. When these two characters are combined, they create the character 肩, which represents the important and prominent part of the body that connects the arm to the torso.The character 肩 has been used in Chinese for thousands of years, and it has a rich history and cultural significance. In ancient China, the shoulders were considered to be a symbol of strength and power, and they were often used in art and literature to represent these qualities. For example, the Chinese idiom "肩负重任" (jiān fù zhòng rèn) means "to shoulder a heavy responsibility", and it is often used to describe someone who is taking on a difficult or challenging task.The character 肩 is also used in many Chinese proverbs and sayings. For example, the proverb "两肩挑千斤" (liǎng jiān tiāo qiān jīn) means "to carry a thousand catties on one's shoulders", and it is often used to describe someone who is very strong or capable. The saying "肩并肩" (jiān bìng jiān) means "shoulder to shoulder", and it is often used to describe people who are working together or fighting side by side.The character 肩 is a versatile and important character in Chinese, and it has a rich history and cultural significance. It is a character that is worth learning for any HSK learner.