Idioms using the word "肩 (shoulder)"

・肩Kataをwo 貸すkasu(To lend one’s shoulder)
・肩Kataをwo 落とすotosu(Drop one’s shoulders)
・肩身Katamiがga 狭いsemai (narrowed one’s shoulder and body)
・肩Kataがga 軽くなるkarukunaru(One’s shoulders feel lighter)
・肩Kataをwo すくめるsukumeru(Shrug one’s shoulders)

慣用句（idiom） are expressions that combine two or more words to create a different meaning.

The meaning is completely different from the original words, so it is useful to know idioms. 

Idioms often use words related to the body, such as “hand (te)” and “leg (ashi).” This month, let’s learn some useful idioms that use the word shoulder(kata).”

 

The meaning of kata wo kasu is “helping someone.”

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～The Day Before the Soccer Game～
  
  A: Bさんsan、実はjitsu wa　Cさんがsan ga　けがkegaしちゃってshichatte…(Hey, C-san got injured, and he won’t be able to play tomorrow.) 。明日ashitaのno　試合shiai、肩をkata wo 貸してkashiteほしいんだけどhosiindakedo…(I was wondering if you could help out with tomorrow's game. )。
  
  B: 明日ashitaですかdesuka…、わかりましたwakarimashita(Tomorrow? Oh, well, OK.)。私watashiでde　よかったらyokattara、お手伝いしますotetsudaishimasu(I’m happy to help you.)！

 

The meaning of kata wo otosu is “you get disappointed when you fail, or something unfortunate happens.”

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～A received his test results～
  
  A: あ～あa-a(Oh well.)。あとato　1点ten　足りなかったtarinakatta( I was just one point short of passing.)。
  
  B: あんまりanmari　肩をkata wo 落とさないでotosanaide(Don't be too disappointed.)。次tsugi、頑張ろうよganbarouyo(Let's try harder next time.)。

 

The meaning of kata-mi ga semai is “feeling ashamed and sorry for having failed or for having caused trouble.”

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～B is talking with his elder friend A.～
  
  A: 就職先shūshokusakiはwa　決まったkimatta(Have you found a job yet)？
  
  
  B: まだmada　決まっていないんですkimatteinaindesu(I still haven't found a job.)。友達tomodachiはwa　みんなminna　決まっているからkimatteirukara、肩身katamiがga 狭くてsemakute…(All my friends have already secured positions, so I feel embarrassed.)。

 

The meaning of kata ga karuku naru is “feeling relieved and at ease because responsibilities, worries, and stress disappear.”

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～B is talking with his elder friend A.～
  
  A: 就職先shūshokusaki、決まったんだってねkimattanndattene(I heard you scored the job.)。おめでとうomedetou(Congratulations)！
  
  B: ありがとうございますarigatougozaimasu(Thank you.)。やっとyatto　決まってkimatte、肩kataがga 軽くなりましたkarukunarimashita(I finally got a job, and it took a load off my shoulders.)。

 

The meaning of kata wo sukumeru is “to raise both your shoulders and make your body smaller.” This gesture expresses feelings of being troubled, disappointed, confused, or embarrassed. It can be used to describe oneself or others.

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～A and B are talking about a new game.～
  
  A: 昨日kinou　新しいatarashii　ゲームge-mu、買うことがkaukotoga　できたdekita(Could you buy the new game yesterday)？
  
  B: 朝asaからkara　店miseにni　並んだけどnarandakedo、買うことがkaukotoga　できなかったdekinakatta(I lined up at the store first thing in the morning, but I couldn't buy it.)。すぐにsuguni　なくなってしまったからnakunatteshimattakara、みんなminna　肩kataをwo すくめてmigakitaiいたよitayo……(They sold out right away, so everyone in line just shrugged their shoulders.)。