Meaning and Usage
"并肩" literally means "shoulder to shoulder" and is used to describe people or entities standing or working side by side, often implying cooperation, solidarity, or close relationship.
Common Contexts
It is frequently used to describe physical proximity, such as walking side by side, as well as metaphorical cooperation, like fighting challenges together or developing jointly.
Collocations and Patterns
- 并肩走 (walk side by side): emphasizes physical closeness.
- 并肩作战 (fight shoulder to shoulder): used in contexts of teamwork or facing difficulties together.
- 并肩发展 (develop side by side): often used in business or organizational contexts.
Usage Notes
"并肩" conveys a sense of equality and partnership. It is more formal and poetic than simply saying "一起" (together). Avoid confusing it with "肩并肩" which is a similar phrase but less commonly used in modern Mandarin.