并肩 bìngjiān alongside
alongside; shoulder to shoulder; side by side; abreast
How to remember 并肩: 并 to combine + 肩 shoulders = alongside.
Characters
How it is used
- Shoulder to shoulder - 并肩作战 (bìngjiān zuòzhàn) to fight side by side.
- Strongly figurative for joint effort and solidarity, more than literal position: 并肩前进 (bìngjiān qiánjìn) to advance together.
- Contrast 并排, which is neutral 'in a row'; 并肩 carries the comradeship overtone.