Definitions

páng (noun) side; beside
páng (noun) lateral component of a Chinese character

Etymology

Phonosemantic component. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 旁 functions as a spatial indicator, with 方 serving as both a phonetic element and a semantic root related to direction. Its top portion is composed of the components 亠, 八, and 冖. Historically, the character primarily denotes a side, edge, or lateral position relative to a central point. This core meaning extends to related concepts of secondary or adjacent elements, such as collateral family branches or peripheral issues. The association with 方 consistently reinforces the idea of a lateral, rather than central, position.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Western Zhou (1045-771 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

边站着一个人。

Pángbiān zhàn zhe yīgè rén.

There is a person standing beside.

我坐在他边。

Wǒ zuò zài tā pángbiān.

I am sitting next to him.

请不要站在马路边。

Qǐng bùyào zhàn zài mǎlù pángbiān.

Please do not stand by the roadside.

他只是一个观者。

Tā zhǐshì yīgè pángguānzhě.

He is merely a bystander.

她正在听法律课程。

Tā zhèngzài pángtīng fǎlǜ kèchéng.

She is auditing a law course.

剧中的白很有深度。

Jù zhōng de pángbái hěn yǒu shēndù.

The narration in the play is very profound.

他总能提出一些人不注意的细节。

Tā zǒng néng tíchū yīxiē pángrén bù zhùyì de xìjié.

He can always point out some details that others overlook.

征博引是他的演讲特点。

Páng zhēng bó yǐn shì tā de yǎnjiǎng tèdiǎn.

Extensive citation of sources is a characteristic of his speeches.