noun / localizer HSK 2
Traditional 下邊
xià bian
below · under · underneath · lower part

Meaning

下边 is a common localizer (location word) that indicates a position below or underneath something. It combines 下 (down/below) with 边 (side/edge) to create a spatial term used to describe physical location or figurative positioning.

Usage

Commonly used in everyday speech to indicate physical location below something. Often appears in the pattern 在...的下边 (at/under...). The pronunciation often softens to 'xià bian' with a neutral tone on the second syllable. Can be used literally (under the table) or figuratively (in the section below).

Examples

  1. 01
    书在桌子的下边
    Shū zài zhuōzi de xià bian.
    The book is under the table.
  2. 02
    你看下边的那张照片。
    kàn xià bian de zhāng zhàopiàn.
    Look at that photo below.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 在...的下边
    zài ... de xià bian
    under/below...
  • 下边
    xià bian de
    the one(s) below
  • 下边
    wǎng xià bian
    toward the bottom

Antonyms

Origin

Compound word combining 下 (below) and 边 (side) to create a directional localizer, following a common pattern in Mandarin where direction words combine with 边 to indicate relative position.

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