肩(かた)

かた

noun

shoulder

body-part

1. shoulder

The part of the body between the neck and upper arm.

肩(かた)を叩(たた)く。

To pat someone on the shoulder.

肩(かた)が凝(こ)っている。

My shoulders are stiff.

子(こ)どもを肩(かた)に乗(の)せた。

I put the child on my shoulders.

長(なが)い時間(じかん)パソコンを使(つか)っていたので、肩(かた)が痛(いた)くなった。

My shoulders started to hurt because I used the computer for a long time.

重(おも)い荷物(にもつ)を肩(かた)にかけて歩(ある)いていたら、だんだん肩(かた)が痛(いた)くなってきた。

I was walking with a heavy bag on my shoulder, and gradually my shoulder started to hurt.

肩(かた) refers to the shoulder area of the body. It appears in many common expressions and idioms.

Common expressions

肩(かた)が凝(こ)る: to have stiff shoulders (very common complaint in Japan)
肩(かた)を並(なら)べる: to stand shoulder to shoulder; to be on equal footing
肩(かた)を持(も)つ: to take someone's side
肩(かた)の荷(に)が下(お)りる: to feel relieved of a burden
肩(かた)を落(お)とす: to slump one's shoulders (in disappointment)

Compounds

肩書(かたがき): title, position
肩車(かたぐるま): riding on shoulders (piggyback on shoulders)
肩幅(かたはば): shoulder width

Cultural note

肩(かた)が凝(こ)る (stiff shoulders) is an extremely common ailment in Japan. 肩(かた)たたき (shoulder tapping/massage) is a traditional way children show appreciation to parents.

Related Words

Related: 肩(かた)をすくめる (to shrug one's shoulders)

Related: 肘(ひじ) (elbow)

Related: 二(に)の腕(うで) (upper arm)

Related: 首筋(くびすじ) (nape of the neck)

basic

Added 2026.1.9 21:51 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

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