àn HSK 5

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

我们站在河岸上。
Wǒmen zhàn zài hé àn shàng.
We are standing on the riverbank.
船慢慢地靠近海岸。
Chuán màn man de kàojìn hǎi àn.
The boat slowly approaches the coast.
岸边的风景非常美丽。
Àn biān de fēngjǐng fēicháng měilì.
The scenery by the shore is very beautiful.
船停在岸边。
Chuán tíng zài àn biān.
The boat stops at the shore.
河岸很高。
Hé àn hěn gāo.
The river bank is very high.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of the character 岸: the top part 山 (shān) means 'mountain,' and the bottom 干 (gàn) suggests 'dry' or 'trunk.' Imagine a mountain-like, dry land next to water—this is the 'bank' or 'shore.'

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in tone and used in both formal and informal contexts, as well as in spoken and written Chinese. It frequently appears in descriptions of natural scenery, geography, or activities near water, like walking along a riverbank or coastal areas.

📖 Grammar Points

岸 is primarily used as a noun and often appears in noun-noun compounds (e.g., 河岸) or with location words like 上 (shàng) or 边 (biān) to indicate position (e.g., 在岸上 - on the bank). It can also be used in verb phrases like 上岸 (to disembark).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 岸 can symbolize safety, stability, or a destination after a journey, as in the idiom 回头是岸 (huí tóu shì àn, meaning 'repent and be saved,' literally 'turn back and there is the shore'). It is also common in poetry and art depicting natural landscapes.

🔄 Similar Words

岸 is similar to 边 (biān, meaning 'side' or 'edge'), but 岸 specifically refers to the edge of water bodies, while 边 is more general (e.g., 河边 for 'riverside' uses both). It differs from 滩 (tān, 'beach' or 'sandy shore'), which emphasizes a flat, often sandy area, whereas 岸 can include rocky or steep banks.

Master this word with quizzes, flashcards & more

Learn in CILI →

Related Words