旁 (páng) — (bound form) side; lateral; (bound form) other; else; (bound form, in Chinese character structure) lateral component, radical-like element
Definition
Always a bound form: combines with 边, 人, etc. to mean 'side' or 'other'. In calligraphy, 偏旁 means the lateral component (side radical) of a character, like 刂 or 亻.
bound form
sidelateralotherelse(bound form, in Chinese character structure) lateral componentradical-like element
Examples
- 。páng Biān yǒu yì kē shù.There is a tree on the side.
- 。páng Rén de yì jiàn yě yào tīng.You should also listen to other people's opinions.
- ？Zhè ge zì de piān páng shì shén me?What is the radical of this character?
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
In 旁, 方 is the lower part and gives the sound. The upper part is unclear and may have been part of the meaning.
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