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周围 (zhōu wéi) — surroundings; vicinity

Definition

Refers to the area around a person, place, or thing (surroundings, vicinity). Compared to 附近, it's about what's around a center point rather than a general nearby area.

noun
surroundingsvicinity

Examples

  • 周围。
    Wǒ zhù de xiǎo qū zhōu wéi yǒu hěn duō shāng diàn.
    There are many shops around the neighborhood where I live.
  • 周围。
    Kāi chē de shí hou yào zhù yì zhōu wéi de qíng kuàng.
    Pay attention to the surroundings when driving.
  • 周围。
    zhōu wéi Yí gè rén yě méi yǒu.
    There is no one around.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

周zhōuaround
围wéienclose

周 and 围 both refer to encircling, together giving the area around something.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The oldest form of 周 drew a jade artifact with carved patterns. It was later borrowed for a place name, so an extra mark was added to distinguish it.

Open 周 →

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 圍; 围 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
囗囗wéienclosure
Sound part声符shēngfú
韋
韋wéi圍wéi
Same sound today

The traditional form 圍 pairs 囗 (enclosure) with 韋, which gives the sound; 围 is the simplified form of 圍.

Open 围 →
Appears in
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