Meaning
傍 means to be close to, adjacent to, or alongside something. It often describes physical proximity or position near something else, particularly in literary or formal contexts. The character combines the person radical (亻) with 旁 (páng, meaning 'side'), literally suggesting a person standing beside something.
Usage
傍 is more common in written or literary Chinese than everyday speech. It frequently appears in time expressions like 傍晚 (bàngwǎn, 'dusk/evening') meaning 'near evening,' and in describing locations near geographical features. In modern conversational Chinese, 旁边 (pángbiān) is more commonly used for 'beside.'
Examples
- 01傍晚的时候，我们在公园散步。, .In the evening, we took a walk in the park.
- 02这个小镇依山傍水，风景优美。, .This small town is nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with beautiful scenery.
Common collocations
- 傍晚evening, dusk
- 傍晚时分at dusk, in the evening
- 依山傍水nestled against mountains and beside water (picturesque location)
Antonyms
Origin
The character combines 亻(person radical) with 旁 (páng, 'side'), originally depicting a person standing at the side of something, which evolved into the meaning of 'being near or beside.'