沿

yán

HSK 5

沿 — yán

1. along; following the length or course of (e.g. a road, river, wall)

   我们沿河散步。 wǒmen yánhé sànbù — We walk along the river.

2. to follow (a line, course, tradition, etc.); to go along (a direction)

   请沿着这条路一直走。 qǐng yánzhe zhètiáo lù yìzhí zǒu — Please follow this road straight ahead.

3. to carry on; to continue (a practice, tradition, action)

   老手把经验沿用到新项目上。 lǎoshǒu bǎ jīngyàn yányòng dào xīn xiàngmù shàng — The veterans carried their experience into the new project.

4. to trim (a border with braid, tape, etc.)

   裁缝沿裙边缝上了蕾丝。 cáiféng yán qúnbiān fèngshàng le lěisī — The tailor sewed lace along the hem of the skirt.

5. border; edge; margin

   碗的沿有一道裂纹。 wǎn de yán yǒu yīdào lièwén — There is a crack along the rim of the bowl.