Chinese word

沿

Pronunciation

Pinyinyán

Meaning

  • prepositionalong

Example

请沿着这条河走。qǐng yán zhe zhè tiáo hé zǒu

Please walk along this river.

Illustration for 沿 (along)

More examples

汽车沿着海岸线行驶。qì chē yán zhe hǎi àn xiàn xíng shǐ

The car is driving along the coastline.

Core concept

Tracks beside a line and moves in the line's direction, whether the line is a river, road, edge, or route.

Common phrases

  • 沿着海岸线yán zhe hǎi àn xiàn

    along the coastline

  • 沿着街道yán zhe jiē dào

    along the street

  • 沿着路线yán zhe lù xiàn

    along the route

Similar words

沿着yán zhe: Indicates movement along the edge or course of a particular thing, such as a river or road.
顺着shùn zhe: Indicates moving in the direction of a route, current, or other flow.

Definition in Chinese

用作介词，表示沿着某条路线、边缘或事物的方向行进或延伸，强调跟随既定路线。yòng zuò jiè cí biǎo shì yán zhe mǒu tiáo lù xiàn biān yuán huò shì wù de fāng xiàng xíng jìn huò yán shēn qiáng diào gēn suí jì dìng lù xiàn

Word origin

The water component of 沿 (yán, "along") reflects its early association with following a watercourse, and the meaning broadened to roads, edges, and other routes.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 沿着 (yánzhe, "along") commonly comes before the route and is followed by a movement verb, especially in ordinary directions.

Other meanings

  • followverb

Related words

  • 沿用yán yòngcontinue to useverb
  • 沿袭yán xífollow a traditionverb
  • 沿革yán géhistory and developmentnoun

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