noun / localizer HSK 2
Traditional 旁邊
beside · next to · side · nearby
Meaning
旁边 is a common locational word that indicates something is positioned at the side of or next to another object. It's one of the basic position words learners encounter early on, used to describe spatial relationships between people, objects, or places.
Usage
旁边 typically follows the reference object in the pattern 'X + 的 + 旁边' (beside X) or can stand alone as '在旁边' (on the side/nearby). It's neutral in register and used in both spoken and written contexts. Unlike English 'beside,' 旁边 doesn't specify left or right side—it just means 'at the side of.'
Examples
- 01我的书在桌子旁边。.My book is beside the table.
- 02请坐在我旁边。.Please sit next to me.
Characters
Common collocations
- 在...旁边...at the side of...
- 坐在旁边to sit beside
- 站在旁边to stand beside
- 旁边的人the person beside/next to
Origin
Both characters relate to 'side': 旁 originally depicted something at the side, while 边 means border or edge. Together they reinforce the concept of being positioned at the lateral side of something.