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边
biān
side
桌子的边很锋利，小心别碰。
The edge of the table is sharp, be careful not to touch it.
formal
The outer limit or margin of an object or area; edge.
这条路的边上种满了花。
Flowers are planted along the side of this road.
请站在队伍的最边上。
Please stand at the very edge of the line.
Often used with spatial prepositions like 上, 下, 里, 外, 前, 后.
formal
A border or boundary between two places; frontier.
边界线需要重新划定。
The border line needs to be redefined.
士兵守卫着国家的边。
Soldiers guard the country's borders.
Commonly paired with 边界 (boundary) or 国边 (national border).
informal
A side or aspect (of an issue, story, etc.).
我们需要考虑问题的另一个边。
We need to consider the other side of the issue.
Often used in phrases like 一方面...另一方面 (on one hand...on the other hand).
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Spatial Prepositions
边 often pairs with prepositions like 上 (on), 下 (under), 里 (inside), 外 (outside), 前 (front), and 后 (back) to indicate location. For example, '桌子边上' means 'on the edge of the table'.
Gold Rule
边 vs. 面
边 emphasizes the edge or boundary, while 面 emphasizes the surface. Compare '桌子边' (edge of the table) vs. '桌子面' (surface of the table).
Word Origin
From Old Chinese 邊 (*pren), originally meaning 'side' or 'edge', related to the idea of a boundary or limit.
Usage Notes
边 is a basic spatial term in Chinese, often used in both literal and figurative contexts. It can refer to physical edges (e.g., of a table) or metaphorical boundaries (e.g., between ideas).
Word Breakdown
边
side/edge/border
root汉英词典