Key Facts
- Hangul: 어깨; Revised Romanization: eokkae
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral everyday word.
Shoulder in Korean: What Does 어깨 Mean?
어깨 is the shoulder, the joint and the line across the top of your back. You use it for pain after a long day, for a massage, and for describing someone with broad shoulders. Idioms use it too: a shrug and a friendly arm round the shoulder both start from 어깨.
How Do You Pronounce 어깨?
Two syllables: eo-kkae. The middle sound is the tense ㄲ, made with the throat tight and no puff of air, like the k in "sky" but stronger. It starts the second syllable, so the break falls before the tense sound: eo-kkae. The vowel ㅐ is close to the e in "bed".
Example Sentences with 어깨
어깨가 아파요.
Eokkaega apayo.
My shoulder hurts.
The subject marker 가 follows 어깨. 아파요 is the common way to say that a part of the body hurts.
어깨를 주물러 주세요.
Eokkaereul jumulleo juseyo.
Please massage my shoulders.
주물러 is the verb for kneading or massaging, and 주세요 turns it into a polite request. Family members often ask each other this after a long day.
그 사람은 어깨가 넓어요.
Geu sarameun eokkaega neolbeoyo.
He has broad shoulders.
넓어요 describes width. 그 사람은 is the topic (the person), and 어깨가 is the subject (the part being described).
Phrases and Collocations with 어깨
The body-part phrases show the verbs that go with 어깨: stiffness, shrugging, and the compound for walking with arms round each other's shoulders.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 어깨가 결리다 | to have a stiff shoulder |
| 어깨를 으쓱하다 | to shrug |
| 어깨동무 | arm around someone's shoulder |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 어개
Correct: ✓ 어깨
Why: The word needs the tense ㄲ, so spelling it with a single ㄱ gives a word that does not exist. Say eo-kkae with a tight throat and write ㄲ.
어깨 Compared with Similar Words
Two nearby body words mark the edges of the shoulder: the arm hanging below and the chest in front.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 팔 | arm | The arm that hangs below the shoulder. |
| 가슴 | chest | The front of the upper body. |
Where Does 어깨 Come From?
어깨 is native Korean and has no hanja. Its shape is just one word, so remember the double consonant as part of the spelling.
After Work: Asking about a Sore Shoulder
Two colleagues are packing up after a day at their desks. One notices the other rubbing a shoulder.
Jisu
어깨가 아파요?
Eokkaega apayo?
Does your shoulder hurt?
Mina
네, 오른쪽 어깨가 좀 결려요.
Ne, oreunjjok eokkaega jom gyeollyeoyo.
Yes, my right shoulder feels a little stiff and sore.
Jisu
가방이 너무 무거운 거 아니에요?
Gabangi neomu mugeoun geo anieyo?
Isn’t your bag too heavy?
Mina
맞아요. 오늘 책을 많이 가져왔어요.
Majayo. Oneul chaegeul mani gajyeowasseoyo.
It is. I brought a lot of books today.
오른쪽 어깨 specifies the right shoulder. 왼쪽 어깨 would identify the left one. 결려요 describes a stiff ache, so it gives more detail than 아파요. The colleague asks about the bag as part of ordinary conversation; the exchange describes discomfort without naming a medical condition.
Everyday Movements with 어깨
어깨에 메다 means to carry something over a shoulder. 에 marks the shoulder as the place supporting the item. With a bag, the carrying verb is 메다. This is useful when describing how someone carries a backpack or a shoulder bag, rather than merely saying they have one.
어깨를 펴다 means to straighten or open your shoulders. You may hear it in a posture or exercise instruction. 어깨 힘을 빼다 means to relax the tension in your shoulders, literally to take the strength out. These instructions can occur together: opening the shoulders does not mean keeping them rigid.
어깨동무 names putting an arm around another person’s shoulders. You can see it in group photographs or among friends walking together. The word describes the position or action. It does not identify the people’s relationship by itself, so the scene tells you whether they are friends, relatives or teammates.
Shoulder Expressions beyond the Body Part
어깨가 무겁다 literally means “the shoulders are heavy”. Figuratively, it means feeling the weight of responsibility. A person newly put in charge of a project may use it even when they have no physical shoulder pain. Look for a duty or expectation in the surrounding conversation.
어깨를 나란히 하다 literally pictures placing shoulders side by side. It can describe standing alongside someone, but it also means being on an equal level. In a report about a team or company, it can say that they now match leading competitors. The comparison gives you the figurative meaning.
어깨를 으쓱하다 can describe a physical shrug. In a scene where someone receives praise, lifting the shoulders can also suggest pride. A shrug in a drama is therefore not always the English gesture for “I don’t know”. Watch what has just been said and how the person reacts.
Where You Will Hear the Literal Word
At a clothing shop, 어깨 is useful for discussing fit. 어깨가 넓다 describes broad shoulders on a person, while 어깨 너비 means shoulder width, a measurement used for clothing. A size chart is discussing the garment’s dimensions; a description of someone’s build is discussing their body.
In everyday talk, 어깨 can mean one shoulder or the shoulder area generally. Add a side when it matters. A person saying 어깨가 결려요 may be describing both shoulders after sitting for a long time, without adding a plural marker.
Nearby Body Words
| Korean | Meaning | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 목 | neck | The area just above the shoulders. |
| 등 | back | The rear of the torso below the shoulder line. |
| 팔 | arm | The limb that begins at the shoulder. |
| 팔꿈치 | elbow | The joint farther down the arm. |
The body parts lesson teaches these neighbouring areas together. Naming the side and the body part makes a description much clearer than pointing alone.
Quick Self-Test
- How do you specify the left shoulder?
- What might 어깨가 무겁다 mean after someone takes charge of a project?
- In a size chart, what does 어깨 너비 measure?
Show answers
- 왼쪽 어깨.
- They feel the weight of responsibility.
- Shoulder width.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say shoulder in Korean?
Say 어깨 (eokkae). The middle consonant is the tense ㄲ.
How do you say "my shoulder hurts" in Korean?
Say 어깨가 아파요.
How do you ask for a shoulder massage?
Say 어깨를 주물러 주세요.
How do you say a stiff shoulder?
Say 어깨가 결리다 for the phrase, with 결리다 describing the stiff ache.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: body parts vocabulary lines it up with the other body parts.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add it to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Contrast: the page for arm covers the limb below.
- Next in the list: the page for skin.