两侧

• Pinyin: liǎng cè
• Hanzi breakdown: 两 = 一 + 冂 + 从, two/both; 侧 = 亻(person) + 则, side

Meaning

Both sides; the two sides. Referring to the areas on either side of something.

Used for physical descriptions of roads, buildings, bodies, etc. Common phrases: 道路两侧 (both sides of the road), 身体两侧 (both sides of the body), 河流两侧 (both banks of a river). More formal than 两边.

Examples

1. 马路两侧种满了梧桐树，夏天走在下面特别凉快。 Both sides of the road are planted with plane trees; walking under them in summer is especially cool.
2. 人行道两侧停满了共享单车，严重影响了行人通行。 Both sides of the sidewalk are packed with shared bicycles, seriously affecting pedestrian passage.
3. 这条河的两侧分别是工业区和居民区。 The two sides of this river are the industrial zone and the residential area, respectively.

Usage Guide

Context: description, geography, directions

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 请看两侧的风景。(Please look at the scenery on both sides.)
• 街道两侧都是商店。(There are shops on both sides of the street.)

Don't Say

• 口语中总用两侧 (In casual speech, 两边 is more natural; 两侧 sounds more formal/written)

Origin & History

Compound of 两 (two/both) + 侧 (side). Formal term for both sides of something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal