侧

• Pinyin: cè
• Hanzi breakdown: 侧 = 亻(person) + 则 (phonetic) — a person turning sideways

Meaning

Side; flank; to incline; to lean to one side. Refers to the lateral aspect or tilting movement.

Describes the side of an object or body as opposed to the front or back. As a verb, means to turn or lean sideways. Common in directional descriptions, body positions, and metaphorical expressions about perspectives or approaches.

Examples

1. 请往左侧移动一点，给后面的人让个位置。 Please move a bit to the left to make room for the people behind you.
2. 他侧过身去，假装没看见我走过来。 He turned his body sideways, pretending not to see me walking over.
3. 我们需要从多个侧面来分析这个问题。 We need to analyze this problem from multiple angles.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, descriptions, analysis

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 公园入口在大楼的北侧。(The park entrance is on the north side of the building.)
• 他侧着头想了想。(He tilted his head and thought for a moment.)

Don't Say

• 这个侧的东西。(侧 needs a compound — say 这一侧 or 这边 for 'this side')

Origin & History

Combines 亻(person radical) with 则 (rule, phonetic). Depicts a person turning to the side, later extended to mean the side or lateral aspect.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal