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远在天边 (yuǎn zài tiān biān) — (idiom) to be far away (literally or figuratively); (idiom) used in the pattern 远在天边，近在眼前 to mean 'what seems far away is actually right here'

Definition

Half of the set phrase 远在天边，近在眼前: 'far away at the edge of heaven' — stresses that something is supposedly very distant, often when it turns out to be close.

idiom
to be far away (literally or figuratively)used in the pattern 远在天边，近在眼前 to mean 'what seems far away is actually right here'

Examples

  • 远在天边，。
    Tā yǐ wéi yuǎn zài tiān biān, qí shí jiù zài gé bì.
    He thought it was far away, but it was actually next door.
  • 远在天边，，。
    yuǎn zài tiān biān, Jìn zài yǎn qián, nǐ zhǎo de dōng xī jiù zài zhuō shàng.
    Far away at the edge of heaven, yet right before your eyes — the thing you're looking for is right on the table.
  • 远在天边，。
    Bié yǐ wéi yuǎn zài tiān biān, qí shí zhǐ yào nǔ lì jiù néng dá dào.
    Don't think it's as far as the edge of heaven — actually, as long as you work hard, you can achieve it.

Origin

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
元
元yuán远yuǎn
Same sound today

远 combines 辶, meaning walk, with 元, used for its sound.

Open 远 →

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

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

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
大大dà
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng天tiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape comes from a frontal standing man 大 with a head; 天 pairs 大 with 丁 for sound.

Open 天 →

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
Idioms & Set Phrases

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