TongTong
Sign in

周边 (zhōu biān) — (noun) surroundings, periphery, perimeter; (noun) peripheral device (computing); (noun) spin-off merchandise, derivative product

Definition

周边 means the area or things around a center — broader than 周围 ('immediate surroundings') and closer to 'periphery' than 环境 ('environment'). Also used for spin-off merchandise and computer peripherals.

noun
surroundingsperipheryperimeterperipheral device (computing)spin-off merchandisederivative product

Examples

  • 周边。
    Zhè zuò chéng shì de zhōu biān huán jìng yuè lái yuè hǎo le.
    The surrounding environment of this city is getting better and better.
  • 周边。
    Gōng sī xīn kāi fā le yì kuǎn zhōu biān shè bèi.
    The company has developed a new peripheral device.
  • 周边。
    Zhè kuǎn yóu xì de zhōu biān chǎn pǐn mài dé bǐ yóu xì běn shēn hái guì.
    The spin-off products of this game sell for more than the game itself.

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.

周zhōuaround
边biānedge

周 means around and 边 means edge, so together they point to the area or rim 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 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
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Directions

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.