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两边 (liǎng bian) — both sides (of a physical object, location, or argument); splitting the bill equally (go Dutch)

Definition

Means 'both sides' (of a street, a debate, two parties). The second sense — 两边结账 — is a set phrase meaning 'go Dutch' and split the bill evenly.

noun
both sides (of a physical object, location, or argument)splitting the bill equally (go Dutch)

Examples

  • 两边。
    Zhè tiáo lù liǎng bian zhǒng mǎn le shù.
    This road is lined with trees on both sides.
  • ，两边。
    Tán pàn zhōng, liǎng bian dōu jiān chí zì jǐ de lì chǎng.
    In the negotiation, both sides stuck to their positions.
  • 两边。
    Wǒ men zhè cì liǎng bian jié zhàng ba.
    Let's go Dutch on this meal.

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.

两liǎngtwo
边biānside

两 (two) and 边 (side) together mean both sides or parties.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

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 →
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