边界 (biān jiè) — boundary; border | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

边界 names an official, often political border between regions or countries — more formal than 边境 (a frontier zone) and broader than 界限 (a dividing line, often abstract).

noun

boundaryborder

Measure word · 个

Examples

边界。
Liǎng guó zài biān jiè wèn tí shàng dá chéng le xié yì.
The two countries reached an agreement on the border issue.
边界。
Kē xué yán jiū yǒu shí huì mó hu xué kē biān jiè.
Scientific research sometimes blurs disciplinary boundaries.
边界。
Zhè tiáo shān mài shì tiān rán biān jiè.
This mountain range is a natural border.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

边biānedge

界jièboundary

边 and 界 both mean border or edge; together they denote a boundary.

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.

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

辶臱邊

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 →

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

田介界

Meaning part形符xíngfú

田田tiánfield

Sound part声符shēngfú

介

介jiè界jiè

Same sound today

界 is built from 田 (field) and 介. 田 carries the meaning, while 介 gives the sound.

Open 界 →

Appears in