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March 24, 2026
膊bó(bo2)
The character 膊 (bó) primarily refers to the shoulder or upper arm in the human anatomy. It is commonly used in medical or anatomical contexts, as well as in discussions about physical activities involving the upper body. The nuance of this term often implies a focus on the muscular or structural aspects of the shoulder region.
Strokes14Radical⺼Frequency#35451DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the shoulder (膊) is associated with various meridians and energy flows, playing a crucial role in treatments and health practices.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong 'bódy'builder lifting weights, showcasing his powerful shoulders. The character 膊 resembles a person lifting something heavy, while the 'b' sound in 'bó' reminds you of 'brawn' and muscles, linking the character to the strength of the shoulder.
Meanings of 膊
bó(bo2)
1shoulder
2upper arm
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 膊
膊Simplified
14Strokes
⺼Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#35451Frequency Rank
Podcast: 膊
Podcast: 膊
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AI Study Notes for 膊
Usage Notes
When using 膊, be aware that it is more formal and technical, often found in medical language. Common mistakes include confusing it with 肩 (jiān), which specifically means 'shoulder' in a more general sense. Remember to use 膊 when discussing physical anatomy or injuries related to the upper arm.
HSK Study Tips
Although 膊 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well to other body part terms at HSK 3 and 4, such as 手 (shǒu, hand) and 背 (bèi, back). Focus on its structure and pronunciation to reinforce body-related vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 膊 with 肩, thinking they are interchangeable, but remember that 膊 specifically refers to the upper arm region. A wrong example would be saying '我的膊痛' (wǒ de bó tòng) to express shoulder pain; instead, use '我的肩痛' (wǒ de jiān tòng).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 膊
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Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 尃 represents the sound.
1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
2The sound half尃 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayflesh
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 膊? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 膊?
Decomposition of 膊
IDS Structure⿰⺼尃
膊Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
尃fu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 膊?
How to say shoulder in Chinese
“shoulder” in Chinese is膊bó
The character 膊 (bó) primarily refers to the shoulder or upper arm in the human anatomy. It is commonly used in medical or anatomical contexts, as well as in discussions about physical activities involving the upper body. The nuance of this term often implies a focus on the muscular or structural aspects of the shoulder region.
When to use 膊
When using 膊, be aware that it is more formal and technical, often found in medical language. Common mistakes include confusing it with 肩 (jiān), which specifically means 'shoulder' in a more general sense. Remember to use 膊 when discussing physical anatomy or injuries related to the upper arm.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 膊 with 肩, thinking they are interchangeable, but remember that 膊 specifically refers to the upper arm region. A wrong example would be saying '我的膊痛' (wǒ de bó tòng) to express shoulder pain; instead, use '我的肩痛' (wǒ de jiān tòng).
Write 膊
膊
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Practice writing 膊 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 膊
膊 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Amy lifted her arm to wave. "Goodbye," she called.
9
他用一只胳膊肘支着身体，别扭地躺在她旁边。
tā yòng yī zhī gē bó zhǒu zhī zháo shēn tǐ， ， bié niǔ dì tǎng zài tā páng。
He lay beside her awkwardly, propped on an elbow.
10
她揉了揉胳膊，感觉很疼就停下了。
tā róu le róu gē bó， ， gǎn jué hěn téng jiù tíng xià。
She rubbed her arms, but they hurt and she desisted.
Word Family of 膊
Words Containing This Character7
胳膊gēboarm
膊bóshoulder
赤膊bare to the waist
胳膊肘elbow
赤膊上阵fig. to go all out赤膊上陣
打赤膊bare-chested
胳膊肘朝外拐the elbow turns the wrong way
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 胳膊 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 膊
While there are no widely known idiomatic expressions specifically using 膊 (bó), it can appear in phrases related to actions involving the shoulders, such as carrying burdens or supporting others. It's important to learn context to fully understand its usage.
膊 (bó) specifically refers to the upper arm or shoulder, while 肩 (jiān) typically means shoulder. In anatomy discussions, 膊 might refer more to the muscular or upper arm area, whereas 肩 focuses on the joint or bone structure.
膊 (bó) refers to the shoulder or upper arm in Chinese. It is used in various contexts related to the anatomy, especially when discussing parts of the arm. Understanding this character can be useful when talking about physical activities or health.
To use 膊 (bó) in a sentence, you can say: '我肩膊疼' (Wǒ jiān bó téng), which means 'My shoulder hurts.' This demonstrates how to incorporate the character in describing physical sensations related to the shoulder.
The pinyin is 'bó', pronounced with a rising tone. Practice by starting lower in pitch and rising sharply.
It's less common in casual conversation, as people might use 肩 instead; however, it is important in medical contexts.
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