How to say "shoulder" in Japanese

• 肩かたJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe noun for the body part itself: where the arm joins the torso. Use it for actual shoulders — sore, shrugged, or injured ones — not for carrying or for the road sense.
  肩かたが痛いたい。↗

  I have a pain in the shoulder.
• 担ぐかつぐJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTo shoulder in the physical sense: to hoist something onto your shoulder and carry it, such as a heavy bag or a pole. Not the verb for figurative burdens.
  男おとこは袋ふくろを肩かたに担かついだ。↗

  The man threw a bag across his shoulder.
• 負うおうJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbLiterally to carry on one's back; figuratively to bear or shoulder a burden such as a responsibility. When English 'shoulder' means taking on a duty, this is a natural match.
  負おうた子こに教おしえられて浅瀬あさせを渡わたる。↗

  A child on your back may guide you across a ford.
• 担うになうJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTo carry on one's shoulder, and also to bear something figuratively, such as a responsibility, role, or hope. It covers both the physical act and the figurative 'shoulder' of English.
• 路肩ろかたCommon
  nounThe shoulder of a road: the strip of ground at the edge of the roadway, beside the traffic lanes. A road term — nothing to do with the body part.

肩 is the body part and 路肩 the edge of a road; 「担ぐ」 carries a load on the shoulder, 「負う」 carries on the back or bears a burden, and 「担う」 spans the physical and figurative senses.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 肩かたshoulder
• 担ぐかつぐto shoulder
• 負うおうto carry on one's back
• 担うになうto carry on one's shoulder
• 路肩ろかたshoulder (of a road)
• へりedge (of a river, woods, etc.)
• ショルダーshoulder
• 肩部けんぶshoulder
• 舁き上げるかきあげるto shoulder (palanquin)
• 肩に担ぐかたにかつぐto bear
• 肩先かたさき(top of) shoulder
• かぶるto bear (e.g. someone's debts, faults, etc.)