Meaning of 侧
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- the side
- to incline towards
- to lean
- inclined
- lateral
- side
- lean on one side
How to use 侧
侧 (cè) usually appears in compounds for position, such as 左侧 (zuǒcè, left side), 两侧 (liǎngcè, both sides) and 侧面 (cèmiàn, side). As a verb it means to turn or tilt the body sideways. Example: 请从右侧上车。(Qǐng cóng yòucè shàng chē.) Please get on from the right side.
侧 is made of 亻 (person) and 则 (zé). Picture a person standing off to the side of something, turned at an angle, and you have 侧 (cè), side or to lean.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 侧 (cè) with 测 (cè, to measure) and 厕 (cè, toilet), which sound the same. Remember that 侧 has the person radical 亻, 测 has water 氵, and 厕 sits under the cliff 厂.
侧 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
侧 cè · the side · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 侧.
Questions about 侧
What does 侧 mean?
侧 (cè) means "the side; to incline towards" and is used as a noun and verb.
How do you write 侧?
侧 is made of 1 character: 侧 (8 strokes). That is 8 strokes in total.
Is 侧 an HSK word?
Yes. 侧 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 侧 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 侧 is written 側.
What is the difference between 侧 and 边 for side?
边 (biān) is the everyday word, as in 左边 (zuǒbian, left side). 侧 (cè) is more formal and common in signs, directions and written Chinese, as in 左侧 (zuǒcè).
How do I say to sleep on my side or turn sideways?
Use 侧 as a verb. 侧身 (cèshēn) means to turn the body sideways, and 侧着睡 (cèzhe shuì) means to sleep on your side.