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上边 (shàng bian) — above; on top of; (figurative) higher authorities; higher-ups; (in a text) above-mentioned; foregoing

Definition

上边 (shàng bian) means 'above / on top' in space, in a text, or for higher authority. Unlike 上面, it reads as slightly more colloquial and everyday.

noun
aboveon top of(figurative) higher authoritieshigher-ups(in a text) above-mentionedforegoing

Examples

  • 上边。
    Shū zài zhuō zi shàng bian.
    The book is on top of the table.
  • 上边。
    shàng bian De rén ràng wǒ men xià cì zhù yì shí jiān.
    The higher-ups told us to pay attention to the time next time.
  • 上边。
    Nǐ shàng bian shuō de nà jù huà wǒ méi tīng dǒng.
    I didn't understand that sentence you said above / earlier.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

上shàngabove
边biānplace

上 gives above and 边 gives a place sense, so 上边 means above.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

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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