What does 肩 mean in Chinese?

肩 (jiān) means "shoulder; to shoulder (responsibilities etc)" in Chinese.

How do you pronounce 肩?

肩 is pronounced "jiān" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 肩?

肩 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists. It may be a specialized or advanced word.

What words contain the character 肩?

Common words with 肩 include 并肩 (alongside), 仔肩 (to bear responsibility for sth), 凝肩 (frozen shoulder (medicine)), 坎肩 (sleeveless jacket (usually cotton)), 垫肩 (shoulder pad).

How do you write 肩?

You can practice writing 肩 using our stroke order tool.

肩 (jiān), shoulder

肩

jiān

shoulder; to shoulder (responsibilities etc)

verb

Character Breakdown

Radical: 肉 (no. 130)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) shoulder
to shoulder (responsibilities etc)

Example Sentences

他的肩很宽。

Tā de jiān hěn kuān

His shoulders are broad

Words Containing 肩

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
并肩	bìng jiān	alongside	HSK 7-9
仔肩	zī jiān	to bear responsibility for sth
凝肩	níng jiān	frozen shoulder (medicine)
坎肩	kǎn jiān	sleeveless jacket (usually cotton)
垫肩	diàn jiān	shoulder pad

Showing 10 of 20 · View all words with 肩 →

Related Words

肩起(jiān qǐ)· to bear

→

㧯(lǎo)· round-bottomed wicker basket

→

三角肌(sān jiǎo jī)· deltoid muscle (over the shoulder)

→

并肩(bìng jiān)· alongside

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: Not tested
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 5 list

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

Not on the new exam

肩 is not on the new HSK syllabus. Build the words the exam does test.

HSK Lord starts you at your level and schedules each review right before you would forget the word. Free to start.

Start studying free Studied the old HSK? Convert your level

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.