旁边

• Pinyin: páng biān
• Hanzi breakdown: 旁 = 亠 + 冂 + 方 (direction), indicating 'side'; 边 = 辶 (walk) + 力 (power), meaning edge or border

Meaning

Beside; next to; nearby. Indicates a position to the side of something.

A very common location word used to describe the position of objects or people relative to other things. Often used with 在 to form location phrases like 在旁边 (is beside). Can also be used alone as a noun meaning 'the side' or 'nearby area.'

Examples

1. 学校旁边有一个商店。 There is a shop next to the school.
2. 请你坐在我旁边。 Please sit beside me.
3. 他家旁边有一个公园。 There is a park next to his house.

Usage Guide

Context: location, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 银行在学校旁边。(The bank is next to the school.)
• 她站在我旁边。(She is standing beside me.)

Don't Say

• 在旁边的那个学校。(Slightly awkward — to say 'beside the school,' put the noun first: 学校旁边)

Origin & History

A compound of 旁 (side/beside) and 边 (edge/side), both reinforcing the idea of being at the side.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal