边 biān — side; edge; margin; border; boundary
学校旁边有一家书店。Xué xiào páng biān yǒu yì jiā shū diàn.There is a bookstore next to the school.
Common words: 一边 (yī biān)、旁边 (páng biān)、那边 (nà bian)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "edge"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "edge", including 边 (biān), 际 (jì), 缘 (yuán). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "edge" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 边 (biān), 际 (jì), 缘 (yuán) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span biān, jì, yuán — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 边 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 边 biānside; edge; margin; border; boundaryUseful words: 一边, 旁边
- 际 jìborder; edge; boundary; between; among; intervalUseful words: 国际, 实际
- 缘 yuánalong; predestined affinity; reason; edgeUseful words: 缘故, 边缘
Common words for these 3 "edge" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 边 (biān) — so "edge" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
一边yī biānone side; either side; on the one hand; on the other hand旁边páng biānside; adjacent place那边nà bianover there; yonder国际guó jìinternational实际shí jìreality; practice; practical; realistic实际上shí jì shàngin fact; in reality; as a matter of fact; in practice缘故yuán gùreason; cause边缘biān yuánedge; fringe; verge; brink缘分yuán fènfate or chance that brings people together; predestined affinity or relationship; (Budd.) destiny
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "edge".
际 jì — border; edge; boundary; between; among; interval
这是一家国际学校。Zhè shì yì jiā guó jì xué xiào.This is an international school.
Common words: 国际 (guó jì)、实际 (shí jì)、实际上 (shí jì shàng)
缘 yuán — along; predestined affinity; reason; edge
我们能成为朋友真是一种缘分。Wǒ men néng chéng wéi péng you zhēn shì yì zhǒng yuán fèn.It is truly a kind of fate that we became friends.
Common words: 缘故 (yuán gù)、边缘 (biān yuán)、缘分 (yuán fèn)
All 3 characters
Open 边、际、缘 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.