边沿 (biān yán) — edge, fringe, margin (of a physical object or area)

Definition

A literal, physical edge or border of a thing (a cup, cliff, cloth). More concrete than 边缘, which is used for both physical and abstract borders.

noun
edgefringemargin (of a physical object or area)

Examples

  • 边沿。
    Bēi zi de biān yán yǒu yí dào liè fèng.
    There is a crack on the edge of the cup.
  • 边沿，。
    Tā zhàn zài xuán yá de biān yán, bù gǎn wǎng xià kàn.
    He stood at the edge of the cliff, afraid to look down.
  • 边沿。
    Zhè kuài bù de biān yán yǐ jīng mó sǔn le.
    The edge of this cloth has already frayed.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

边biānedge
沿yánrim

边 and 沿 both point to the outer edge or rim, giving an edge, fringe, or margin.

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 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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㕣
㕣㕣沿yán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

沿 pairs 氵 (water) with 㕣, which shows how it was pronounced; it originally meant the edge of a river, which led to the sense of moving along something.

Open 沿 →

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