Meaning
周围 refers to the area or space around something or someone. It can be used both as a noun meaning 'surroundings' or 'vicinity' and as a preposition meaning 'around' or 'surrounding.' The word combines 周 (all around, complete) and 围 (to surround), creating a sense of the complete area encircling a central point.
Usage
Commonly used in both spoken and written Mandarin to describe the environment, neighborhood, or area around a location or person. Often appears in phrases like 在...周围 (around...) or 周围的人 (people around). It's neutral in register and appropriate for all contexts from casual conversation to formal writing.
Examples
- 01我家周围有很多商店和餐馆。.There are many shops and restaurants around my home.
- 02她环顾周围，想找个地方坐下。, .She looked around her surroundings, wanting to find a place to sit down.
Characters
Common collocations
- 在...周围...around...
- 周围的环境surrounding environment
- 周围的人people around, surrounding people
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to concepts of encirclement. 周 originally depicted completeness and going around, while 围 (traditional 圍) contains the enclosure radical 囗, visually representing something surrounded.