滚边 (gǔn biān) — edging, border (on a garment or fabric)

Definition

A textile term for the narrow strip of fabric sewn along the edge of a garment (hem, collar, cuff) as decoration or reinforcement. Unlike a generic 边, it refers specifically to this applied trim, often contrasting in color or texture.

noun
edgingborder (on a garment or fabric)
Measure word · 道

Examples

  • 滚边，。
    Zhè jiàn qí páo de gǔn biān zuò dé fēi cháng jīng měi, yí kàn jiù shì hǎo shǒu yì.
    The edging on this qipao is exquisitely done—you can tell it's fine craftsmanship.
  • 滚边，。
    Cái feng zài qún bǎi shàng jiā le yī céng gǔn biān, ràng qún zi gèng yǒu lì tǐ gǎn.
    The tailor added a layer of edging to the hem, giving the skirt more dimension.
  • 滚边，。
    Zhè zhǒng sī chóu bù liào zuò chéng gǔn biān hòu, xiǎn de tè bié gāo guì.
    After this silk fabric is made into edging, it looks especially noble.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

滚gǔnroll or trim
边biānedge

"滚" describes rolling or trimming and "边" is the edge, together naming the edging made by that action.

Characters in this word

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 滾; 滚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
袞
袞gǔn滾gǔn
Same sound today

The traditional form 滾 pairs 水 (water) with 袞, which supplies the pronunciation. The simplified 滚 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical 袞.

Open 滚 →

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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