Definition
边缘 (biān yuán) means 'edge' or 'periphery' and is more formal than the everyday 边 (biān). It emphasizes the outer boundary of an area or object, and also has figurative uses like 'borderline' or 'fringe' (e.g., marginal issue). 周边 (zhōu biān) refers to the surrounding area rather than the edge itself.
noun
edgefringevergebrinkperiphery
adjective
marginalborderline
Easily confused
- 边远biān yuǎnsound-alikeremote, outlying, far from the center
Examples
- 边缘，。Tā zhù zài chéngshì de biān yuán, shàngbān hěn bù fāngbiàn.He lives on the edge of the city; commuting is very inconvenient.
- 边缘。Nà tiáo xiǎo hé cóng shùlín de biān yuán liú guò.That small stream flows along the edge of the woods.
- 边缘，。Zhège wèntí bǐjiào biān yuán, xūyào zǐxì tǎolùn.This issue is borderline; it needs careful discussion.
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