身边 shēnbiān at one's side
at one's side; on hand
How to remember 身边: 身 body + 边 side = at one's side.
Characters
How it is used
- The space right next to a person, or the people/things in one's immediate life - 我身边没带现金 (wǒ shēnbiān méi dài xiànjīn) I don't have cash on me.
- Figurative use is very common: 身边的人 (shēnbiān de rén) the people around you, your close circle.
- Contrast 旁边 (pángbiān), which is 'beside' any object; 身边 attaches to a person and means 'with/on you' or 'in your life'.
Example sentences
- 我希望你在我身边。 Wǒ xīwàng nǐ zài wǒ shēnbiān.I wish you were close to me.
- 列车从我们身边经过。 Lièchē cóng wǒmen shēnbiān jīngguò.The train passed by us.
- 很不幸，没有人在身边。 Hěn búxìng, méiyǒu rén zài shēnbiān.Unfortunately, there was no one around.