两岸

• Pinyin: liǎng àn
• Hanzi breakdown: 两 = 一 (one) + 内 (inside), originally depicting two; 岸 = 山 (mountain) + 厂 (cliff) + 干 (dry), riverbank

Meaning

Both sides of a river or strait; cross-strait. Often refers to relations between mainland China and Taiwan.

Literally means the two banks or shores. In political and news contexts, commonly refers to cross-strait relations between mainland China and Taiwan. In everyday usage, can simply describe both sides of any river or body of water.

Examples

1. 黄河两岸的风景非常壮观。 The scenery on both sides of the Yellow River is magnificent.
2. 两岸关系的发展受到国际社会的广泛关注。 The development of cross-strait relations has attracted widespread international attention.
3. 这条河的两岸住着几万户人家。 Tens of thousands of families live on both sides of this river.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, politics, news

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 两岸的文化交流越来越频繁了。(Cultural exchanges between the two sides are becoming more frequent.)
• 江两岸灯火辉煌。(Both sides of the river are brilliantly lit.)

Don't Say

• 这个湖的两岸很美。(Lakes typically don't have 岸 in the same sense — use 湖边 or 沿岸)

Origin & History

两 (liǎng, two/both) + 岸 (àn, shore/bank). The two shores or sides.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal