zhān biān

沾 边

Level:

SW HSK 6

ReadWriteQuiz

1
v.touch upon; touch on only lightly
- tā jiǎng de huà gēn tā de zhēn shí sī xiǎng gēn běn bù zhān biān
  他讲的话跟他的真实思想根本不沾边。
  What he said wasn't at all what he was really thinking.
- wǒ bù xiǎng gēn yī gè chǒu lòu de lǎo rén zhān biān
  我不想跟一个丑陋的老人沾边。
  I didn't want to mix with an ugly old man.
2
v.be relevant; be close to what it should be; be pertinent
- zhēn bào qiàn wǎng luò hóng niáng gēn běn gēn mí rén bù zhān biān
  真抱歉，网络红娘根本跟迷人不沾边。
  I'm sorry, but there's nothing charming about Harmony.
3
adj.alright

Separable word
"沾" and "边" can be combined as one word, or be used separately with other elements inserted.
- 你讲的总算沾了边。
  Now, what you said is relevant.
- 这些事我从没沾过边。
  I've never been involved in these matters.
- 这事他沾不上边。
  He has nothing to do with the matter.

沾边