Meaning of 身边
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- at one's side
- on hand
How to use 身边
身边 is used for people or things that are near you, physically or in your life. It often appears in phrases like 在我身边 (at my side) or 身边的人 (the people around me). Example: 我身边没有钱。(Wǒ shēnbiān méiyǒu qián.) I don't have any money on me.
身 (shēn) means body and 边 (biān) means side or edge. Put them together and you get the space at the edge of your body, which is right at your side.
Common mistake: Learners often use 身边 where 旁边 (pángbiān) fits better. 身边 is centered on a person, while 旁边 can describe the side of anything, so say 银行旁边 (next to the bank), not 银行身边.
身边 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.
身 shēn · body · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
边 biān · side · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 身边.
| 那边 | nàbiān | over there; yonder |
| 身上 | shēnshang | on the body; at hand |
| 这边 | zhèbiān | this side; here |
| 身体 | shēntǐ | the body; one's health |
| 一边 | yībiān | one side; either side |
| 旁边 | pángbiān | side; adjacent place |
| 左边 | zuǒbian | left; the left side |
| 右边 | yòubian | right side; right, to the right |
| 里边 | lǐbian | inside |
| 北边 | běibian | north; north side |
| 外边 | wàibian | outside; outer surface |
| 南边 | nánbian | south; south side |
Questions about 身边
What does 身边 mean?
身边 (shēnbiān) means "at one's side; on hand" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 身边?
身边 is made of 2 characters: 身 (7 strokes), 边 (5 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 身边 an HSK word?
Yes. 身边 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 身边 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 身边 is written 身邊.
What is the difference between 身边 and 身上?
身上 (shēnshang) means on the body itself, like something in your pocket or on your clothes. 身边 is a little wider and means near you or around you. For money you carry, both 身上 and 身边 are common.
Can 身边 mean the people in my life, not just physical closeness?
Yes. 身边的朋友 (shēnbiān de péngyou) means the friends around you in your life. It is often used this way to talk about family, friends, and coworkers.