肩 (jiān)

shoulder; to shoulder (responsibilities etc)

HSK 3.1 level 5
8 strokes

Etymology

Originally a pictograph of a shoulder. Later the ⺼ (flesh) component was added.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“，髆也。从肉，象形。肩，俗肩从戶。”

Components

◎ (iconic) — Depicts a shoulder. Unrelated to 户.
⺼ (meaning)