Meanings of 边
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About 边
Podcast: 边
Podcast: 边
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AI Study Notes for 边
边 (biān) vs 旁 (páng): Use 边 when referring to the edge or boundary of an object, while 旁 is more appropriate for indicating a position next to something.
When using 边, be aware of its context as it can indicate both physical and metaphorical edges. Common collocations include 边缘 (biān yuán, 'edge') and 旁边 (páng biān, 'beside'). Ensure you pronounce it with the correct first tone to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
边 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists but is an essential character for describing locations and edges. Students at a beginner level should focus on its usage in everyday contexts, especially when describing things like locations or objects.
Learners often confuse 边 with 面 (miàn, 'face' or 'side') when referring to objects. For example, saying '书的面' instead of '书的边' when talking about the edge of a book is incorrect.
Pronunciation of 边
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Jason Explains 边 to You
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 边
Simplified form of 邊. Phonosemantic compound with two sound components and two meaning components. 辶 and 方 represent the meaning, while 自 and 丙 represent the sound. The traditional component 自 was removed for simplification. The traditional c
walk
Origin
边 = 辶 + 臱. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 边
Parts
Which of these is part of 边?
How to say side in Chinese
“side” in Chinese is边
The character 边 (biān) generally refers to the side, edge, or margin of an object or area. It can denote physical boundaries, such as the edges of a table, or metaphorical boundaries, such as those in discussions about topics or territories. In certain contexts, it can function as a suffix indicating locality.
When to use 边
When using 边, be aware of its context as it can indicate both physical and metaphorical edges. Common collocations include 边缘 (biān yuán, 'edge') and 旁边 (páng biān, 'beside'). Ensure you pronounce it with the correct first tone to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
边 or something close to it
边 (biān) vs 旁 (páng): Use 边 when referring to the edge or boundary of an object, while 旁 is more appropriate for indicating a position next to something.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 边 with 面 (miàn, 'face' or 'side') when referring to objects. For example, saying '书的面' instead of '书的边' when talking about the edge of a book is incorrect.
Write 边
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Practice writing 边 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 边
边 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
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他一____走路，一边唱歌。
He walks while singing.
Example Sentences for 边 (16)
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Word Family of 边
Characters with 边
What does 笾 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 边
You can say '桌子的边是直的' (The edge of the table is straight) to describe a physical edge.
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