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右边 (yòu bian) — right side

Definition

右边 means 'right side (of something)'. It's a noun you say after 在 — in the example, the library is on the right. Compared to 旁边 ('beside, next to'), 右边 fixes a specific side.

noun
right side
Easily confused

Examples

  • 右边。
    Tú shū guǎn zài yòu bian.
    The library is on the right side.
  • 右边。
    Qǐng zuò zài yòu bian.
    Please sit on the right side.
  • 右边。
    Tā de yòu bian shì wǒ.
    I am on his right side.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

右yòuright
边biānside

右 gives “right” and 边 gives “side,” so the word means the side on the right.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu右yòu
Same sound today

右 is made from 又, which supplied the sound, with 口 added as a distinguishing mark.

Open 右 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 邊; 边 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalking; movement
Sound part声符shēngfú
臱
臱mián邊biān(r)
Same sound today

The traditional form 邊 pairs 辶 (walking; movement) with the sound part 臱; the simplified 边 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 边 →
Appears in
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