Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
傍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
傍bàngneart, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #17473, Hard
傍bàngapproachingt, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #17473, Hard
傍bàngto depend ont, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #17473, Hard
傍bàng(slang) to have an intimate relationship with sbt, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #17473, Hard
傍bàngTaiwan pr. [páng], [bāng], [bàng]t, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #17473, Hard
傍bàngbeside, close, nearby; to depend ont, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #17473, Hard
傍bàngTaiwan pr. [pang2], [bang1], [bang4]unknown, 12 strokes, radical 亻, rank #17473, Hard
bàng(bang4) T4
  1. 1near
  2. 2approaching
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
傍bàng(bang4)

The character 傍 (bàng) generally means 'near' or 'beside'. It can also imply 'to depend on' someone or something, and in slang contexts, it refers to having an intimate relationship with someone. Its usage can vary based on context, with formal and informal connotations.

Strokes12Radical亻Frequency#17473DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Taiwan, the slang usage of 傍 to describe intimate relationships reflects the cultural nuances of dating and social interactions, where being 'close' to someone can have varying implications based on context.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person (人) standing beside a tall building (傍), depending on it for support. The character combines 'near' (傍) with the image of reliance, making it easy to remember that 'bàng' relates to nearness and dependence.

Meanings of 傍

bàng(bang4)
1near
2approaching
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 傍

傍Simplified
12Strokes
亻Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#17473Frequency Rank

Podcast: 傍

JasonAmy

Podcast: 傍

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 傍

Quick Contrast

旁 (páng) - use 旁 when emphasizing 'beside' in a spatial sense rather than the more nuanced 'near' or 'depend on' implied by 傍.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person (人) standing beside a tall building (傍), depending on it for support. The character combines 'near' (傍) with the image of reliance, making it easy to remember that 'bàng' relates to nearness and dependence.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 傍 with similar-sounding characters like 帮 (bāng, to help), leading to misunderstandings. In informal contexts, it might be used among friends to discuss relationships, but in formal writing, it’s best to stick to its primary meanings.

HSK Study Tips

Although not officially on HSK lists, 傍 can be related to HSK vocabulary concerning relationships and location. Focus on its different meanings, especially in colloquial contexts, to understand how it might appear in conversation.

Cultural Note

In Taiwan, the slang usage of 傍 to describe intimate relationships reflects the cultural nuances of dating and social interactions, where being 'close' to someone can have varying implications based on context.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 傍 with 旁 (páng), which means 'side' or 'next to', leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying 傍边 instead of 旁边 (pángbiān) for 'beside' is a common error.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 傍

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 傍 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 傍

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Someone 亻 by your side 旁; 旁 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 傍?

Decomposition of 傍

IDS Structure⿰亻旁
傍Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
旁pang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 傍?

Write 傍

傍

Practice writing 傍 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 傍

傍 carries 7 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

战斗在____晚时分打响，持续了一夜。

The fighting began in the late afternoon and continued all night.

Example Sentences for 傍 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
战斗在傍晚时分打响，持续了一夜。

zhàn dǒu zài bàng wǎn shí fēn dǎ xiǎng， ， chí xù le yī。

The fighting began in the late afternoon and continued all night.
2
除了偶尔一两个傍晚出来散步的人，雾蒙蒙的街上空荡荡的。

chú le ǒu ěr yī liǎng gè bàng wǎn chū lái sàn bù de rén， ， wù mēng mēng de jiē shàng kōng dàng dàng。

The foggy streets were virtually empty, except for the occasional evening stroller.
3
直到昨天傍晚6点40分，马丁微弱的呼救声才被人听到。

zhí dào zuó tiān bàng wǎn6 640 diǎn， 40 fēn ， mǎ dīng wēi ruò de hū jiù shēng cái bèi。

Martin's weak cries for help went unheard until 40pm yesterday.
4
傍晚散步去迪耶普的海滩简直是不二之选。

bàng wǎn sàn bù qù dí yé pǔ de hǎi tān jiǎn zhí shì bù èr zhī xuǎn。

For an evening stroll the beach at Dieppe is hard to beat.
5
傍晚晴,早晨阴, 来日大天晴.

bàng wǎn qíng, , zǎo chén, yīn , lái rì dà.

Evening red and morning grey, are the signs of a fine day.
6
到了傍晚我们累趴下了，于是回家。

dào le bàng wǎn wǒ mén léi pā xià le， ， yú shì huí。

By dusk we were dog-tired and heading for home.
7
到了傍晚时分，天气已经变得酷热难耐。

dào le bàng wǎn shí fēn， ， tiān qì yǐ jīng biàn dé kù rè nán。

By the evening it had become unbearably hot.
8
这条路依傍海岸绵延数百英里，一边是南中国海，另一边则是丛林。

zhè tiáo lù yī bàng hǎi àn mián yán shù bǎi yīng lǐ， ， yī biān shì nán zhōng guó， hǎi ， lìng yī biān zé shì。

The road hugs the coast for hundreds of miles, the South China Sea on one side, jungle on the other.
9
夏日的傍晚,鲜花散发出醉人的芳香.

xià rì de bàng wǎn, , xiān huā sàn fā chū zuì rén de fāng.

On summer evenings the flowers gave forth an almost intoxicating scent.
10
傍晚时,敌人的抵抗越来越弱了.

bàng wǎn shí, , dí rén de dǐ kàng yuè lái yuè ruò.

The enemy resistance thinned out as night approached.

Cultural Notes for 傍

🏮Cultural insight

In Taiwan, the slang usage of 傍 to describe intimate relationships reflects the cultural nuances of dating and social interactions, where being 'close' to someone can have varying implications based on context.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the idea of 'being dependent on someone' often has a more negative connotation than in Chinese, where it can imply support and closeness.

Word Family of 傍

Words Containing This Character8
傍晚bàngwǎnin the evening
傍bàngnear
依山傍水mountains on one side and water on the other
依傍to rely on
傍午towards noon
傍近to be close to
偎傍to snuggle up to
傍人门户to be dependent upon sb傍人門戶
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 傍晚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 傍

You can say, '他总是傍着我', which means 'He always relies on me'.