HSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #8078, Hard
沿
yán
to carry on
HSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #8078, Hard
沿
yán
to trim (a border with braid, tape etc)
HSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #8078, Hard
沿
yán
border
HSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #8078, Hard
沿
yán
edge
HSK 5, unknown, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #8078, Hard
yán(yan2) T2
1along
2following (a line)
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March 24, 2026
沿yán(yan2)
The character 沿 (yán) primarily means 'along' or 'following,' often used to describe movement parallel to something, such as a river or path. It conveys the idea of following a course or extending along a border. This character is commonly used in contexts like directions, geography, and even cultural practices.
Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#8078DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'going along' often extends to social traditions, such as following customs or practices that have been established over generations. The term is frequently used when discussing scenic river routes, which are significant in many Chinese landscapes and poetry.
Memory Tip
Imagine a river flowing smoothly along its banks. The character 沿 resembles the flowing water, with the water (the radical 'water' 氵) running along the 'bank' (the character's other components). Picture a boat gently navigating along the river's edge, reminding you of 'yán' and its meaning of 'along.'
Meanings of 沿
yán(yan2)
1along
2following (a line)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 沿
沿Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
方位词direction word (dir.)Part of Speech
#8078Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRC1
Podcast: 沿
Podcast: 沿
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AI Study Notes for 沿
Quick Contrast
沿 (yán) vs 随 (suí) — use 沿 when indicating movement along a specific path or border, while 随 is more about following without a defined course.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a river flowing smoothly along its banks. The character 沿 resembles the flowing water, with the water (the radical 'water' 氵) running along the 'bank' (the character's other components). Picture a boat gently navigating along the river's edge, reminding you of 'yán' and its meaning of 'along.'
Usage Notes
Be careful to use 沿 in contexts related to movement or direction rather than in static situations. It is often used in formal settings, such as in geographical descriptions. Common collocations include 沿着 (yánzhe, meaning 'along') and 沿河 (yánhé, meaning 'riverbank').
HSK Study Tips
Since 沿 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, learners should focus on its practical applications in context. Connecting it with other directional words like '向' (xiàng, towards) or '经过' (jīngguò, to pass by) can enhance understanding at this level.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'going along' often extends to social traditions, such as following customs or practices that have been established over generations. The term is frequently used when discussing scenic river routes, which are significant in many Chinese landscapes and poetry.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 沿 with similar directional words. For instance, they might say '沿街走' (yán jiē zǒu) when they mean '走在街上' (zǒu zài jiē shàng, to walk on the street). It's important to remember that 沿 specifically indicates movement along a line or edge.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 沿
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Grammar Patterns of 沿
沿 carries 10 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Minicabs are prohibited by law from touting passers-by for business.
3
里韦罗警官说因为沿街乞讨而被捕的事情每天都有。
lǐ wéi luó jǐng guān shuō yīn wéi yán jiē qǐ tǎo ér bèi bǔ de shì qíng měi tiān dū yǒu。
Sergeant Rivero says arrests for panhandling take place every day.
4
要沿着照明好的路走。
yào yán zháo zhào míng hǎo de lù zǒu。
Stick to well-lit roads.
5
服务沿海地区的地方广播电台经常为驾驶游艇出海的人播报天气预报。
fú wù yán hǎi dì qū de dì fāng guǎng bō diàn tái jīng cháng wéi jià shǐ yóu tǐng chū hǎi de rén bō bào tiān qì yù bào。
Local radio stations serving coastal areas often broadcast forecasts for yachtsmen.
6
那两个男人转身观看赛马沿赛道而行。
nà liǎng gè nán rén zhuǎn shēn guān kàn sài mǎ yán sài dào ér háng。
The two men turned to watch the horses going round the track.
7
那只罐子的口沿有条极细的裂缝。
nà zhī guàn zǐ de kǒu yán yǒu tiáo jí xì de liè féng。
There's a hairline crack in the rim of that jar.
8
摄像机沿着那排选手移动拍摄。
shè xiàng jī yán zháo nà pái xuǎn shǒu yí dòng pāi shè。
The camera panned along the line of players.
9
沿那一页的中心画一条竖线。
yán nà yī yè de zhōng xīn huà yī tiáo shù xiàn。
Draw a line down that page's center.
10
我驱车沿那条土路行进。
wǒ qū chē yán nà tiáo tǔ lù háng jìn。
I drove along the dirt road.
Cultural Notes for 沿
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 'going along' often extends to social traditions, such as following customs or practices that have been established over generations. The term is frequently used when discussing scenic river routes, which are significant in many Chinese landscapes and poetry.
Word Family of 沿
Words Containing This Character18
沿yánalong
沿着yánzheto go along沿著
前沿qiányánfront-line
沿途yántúby the wayside
沿岸yán’àncoastal area
沿用to apply as before
沿海地区coastland沿海地區
沿海yánhǎicoastal
沿袭to carry on as before沿襲
边沿edge邊沿
沿线yánxiànthe region near the line沿線
沿革history
沿边close to the border沿邊
床沿bedside
沿河县Yanhe Tujia autonomous county in Tongren prefecture 銅仁地區|铜仁地区[Tóngréndìqū], Guizhou沿河縣
沿河土家族自治县Yanhe Tujia autonomous county in Tongren prefecture 銅仁地區|铜仁地区[Tóngréndìqū], Guizhou沿河土家族自治縣
相沿成习well established相沿成習
沿滩区Yantan district of Zigong city 自貢市|自贡市[Zìgòngshì], Sichuan沿灘區
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 沿 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 沿
You can use 沿 to describe movement, such as '我们沿着河走' (Wǒmen yánzhe hé zǒu) meaning 'We walk along the river.'
Yes, 沿 can also refer to following traditions or guidelines, like '沿着传统' (yánzhe chuántǒng), meaning 'following traditions.'
While both can mean 'to follow,' 沿 implies following alongside something, whereas 跟 (gēn) simply means 'to follow' without the directional nuance.
