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濒临 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
濒临bīnlínon the verge ofHSK 7, v, 25 strokes, rank #11305, Very Hard
濒临bīnlínclose toHSK 7, v, 25 strokes, rank #11305, Very Hard
濒临bīnlínon the edge ofHSK 7, unknown, 25 strokes, rank #11305, Very Hard
濒临bīnlín(fig.) on the verge ofHSK 7, unknown, 25 strokes, rank #11305, Very Hard
bīnlín(bin1lin2)bin lin T1
  1. 1on the verge of
  2. 2close to
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March 24, 2026

濒临(瀕臨)bīnlín(bin1lin2)

The verb 濒临 (bīn lín) means to be on the verge of or close to a certain situation or condition. It is often used to describe an imminent state, such as being close to disaster, success, or a critical moment in life. This term is commonly found in both literary and formal contexts.

Strokes25Frequency#11305DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The term 濒临 is often used in discussions about endangered species in China, reflecting the country's growing environmental awareness. For instance, the phrase 濒临灭绝 (bīn lín miè jué) is frequently used in conservation literature.

Memory tip

Imagine standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast ocean. The waves crashing below symbolize the imminent danger of falling, much like the meaning of 濒临, which suggests being on the brink of something significant. The '濒' part looks like a person (水) by the edge (临) of water, emphasizing 'close to' a situation.

Meanings of 濒临

bīnlín(bin1lin2)
1on the verge of
2close to
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 濒临

濒临Simplified
瀕臨Traditional
25Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#11305Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7TOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 濒临

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Podcast: 濒临

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AI Study Notes for 濒临

Quick Contrast

临近 (línjìn) - use 濒临 when emphasizing a critical or precarious situation, whereas 临近 is more neutral, simply indicating proximity.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 濒临 with similar expressions like 接近 (jiē jìn), which means 'to approach.' Use 濒临 in contexts where a critical state is implied, such as '濒临灭绝' (on the verge of extinction). Be cautious with tone pronunciation; 'bīn' should be pronounced with a high level tone and 'lín' with a rising tone.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 濒临 ties into advanced vocabulary that discusses conditions and states. Focus on its usage in formal writing or discussions about environmental or social issues, as it often appears in these contexts. Compare its meaning with other HSK 6 words related to proximity and condition.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to confuse 濒临 with the more general term 近 (jìn), which simply means 'close.' For example, saying '我濒临家' (wǒ bīn lín jiā) is incorrect; it should be '我接近家' (wǒ jiē jìn jiā), meaning 'I am close to home.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 濒临

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Component Characters

濒bīnto approach
16 strokes氵
View full entry
临línto face
HSK 79 strokes丨
View full entry

How to say on the verge of in Chinese

“on the verge of” in Chinese is濒临bīnlín

The verb 濒临 (bīn lín) means to be on the verge of or close to a certain situation or condition. It is often used to describe an imminent state, such as being close to disaster, success, or a critical moment in life. This term is commonly found in both literary and formal contexts.

When to use 濒临

Learners often confuse 濒临 with similar expressions like 接近 (jiē jìn), which means 'to approach.' Use 濒临 in contexts where a critical state is implied, such as '濒临灭绝' (on the verge of extinction). Be cautious with tone pronunciation; 'bīn' should be pronounced with a high level tone and 'lín' with a rising tone.

濒临 or something close to it

临近 (línjìn) - use 濒临 when emphasizing a critical or precarious situation, whereas 临近 is more neutral, simply indicating proximity.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is to confuse 濒临 with the more general term 近 (jìn), which simply means 'close.' For example, saying '我濒临家' (wǒ bīn lín jiā) is incorrect; it should be '我接近家' (wǒ jiē jìn jiā), meaning 'I am close to home.'

Write 濒临

濒
临

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Grammar Patterns of 濒临

濒临 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 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.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这种飞机在1942年年初就____淘汰了。

The aircraft was nearing obsolescence by early

Example Sentences for 濒临 (2)

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1
这种飞机在1942年年初就濒临淘汰了。

zhè zhǒng fēi jī zài1942 1942 nián nián chū jiù bīn lín táo tài。

The aircraft was nearing obsolescence by early
2
他一周之内从这家濒临破产的企业里抽走了数千英镑的资金。

tā yī zhōu zhī nèi cóng zhè jiā bīn lín pò chǎn de qǐ yè lǐ chōu zǒu le shù qiān yīng bàng de zī jīn。

He had siphoned thousands of pounds a week from the failing business.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 濒临

While it's not incorrect to use 濒临 informally, it is more suited for formal writing or discussions due to its serious connotation.

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