(yuán) — (in compounds) fate, predestined relationship; (bound form) edge, fringe; (bound form, literary) along, by way of

Definition

At HSK 7, 缘 is almost always seen in compounds (缘分, 姻缘) meaning 'fate' or a predestined bond. The 'edge' and 'along' senses (边缘, 缘溪而上) are literary or bound-form uses — learners will rarely need them in production.

bound form
(in compounds) fatepredestined relationship(bound form) edgefringe(bound form, literary) alongby way of

Examples

  • Tā men zhī jiān de yuán fèn hěn shēn.
    The fateful bond between them is very deep.
  • Zhè fú huà de biān yuán hěn mó hu.
    The edges of this painting are blurry.
  • Tā yuán xī ér shàng, qù xún zhǎo shuǐ de yuán tóu.
    He went upstream along the creek to find the source of the water.

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