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这边 (zhè biān) — here, this side

Definition

这边 (zhè biān) means 'this side / over here' and emphasizes direction or a general area; 这里 and 这儿 also mean 'here' and are usually interchangeable in speech.

pronoun
herethis side

Examples

  • 这边。
    Nǐ zuò zhè biān.
    You sit here.
  • 这边。
    Tā kàn zhè biān.
    He looks over here.
  • 这边。
    Wǒ zài zhè biān.
    I am over here.

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.

这zhèthis
边biānside

这 (this) and 边 (side) combine to mean this side, or here.

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 這; 这 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
言
言yán這zhè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 這, 辶 (walk) combines with 言 for the sound. The character first meant “to meet” and was later used for “this”.

Open 这 →

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
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