边际 (biān jì) — limit, boundary (abstract or figurative); margin, edge (in economics or formal contexts); substance (of speech or writing)

Definition

At HSK 7, 边际 appears mainly in economic phrases like 边际效用 ('marginal utility'), meaning 'marginal / incremental'. It can also mean 'boundary' or the 'substance' of speech or writing — there it's close to 实质.

noun
limitboundary (abstract or figurative)marginedge (in economics or formal contexts)substance (of speech or writing)

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā de jiǎng huà màn wú biān jì, ràng rén zhuā bú zhù zhòng diǎn.
    His speech was rambling and boundless, making it hard to grasp the main point.
  • 边际。
    Jīng jì xué jiā cháng yòng biān jì xiào yòng lǐ lùn lái fēn xī xiāo fèi xíng wéi.
    Economists often use marginal utility theory to analyze consumer behavior.
  • ，边际。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng nèi róng kōng dòng, háo wú biān jì.
    This article is empty in content and has no substance at all.

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
际jìboundary

边 “edge” and 际 “boundary” both refer to an edge, together meaning a limit 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 際; 际 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
祭
祭jì際⁰jì
Same sound today

The traditional form 際 pairs 阝 with 祭: 阝 gives the meaning and 祭 gives the sound. The simplified 际 is a later shorthand.

Open 际 →

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