yán
Along
沿 (yán) / 沿着 (yánzhe) + Noun (path) + Verb
Pattern diagram
Rule structure
沿 (yán) and 沿着 (yánzhe) introduce an extended route: "along, following". They differ from 朝 (cháo), 向 (xiàng), 往 (wàng), which point toward a destination rather than a line of movement. 沿着 (yánzhe) is the more colloquial variant with 着 (zhe).
Rule structure
沿 (yán) and 沿着 (yánzhe) introduce an extended route: "along, following". They differ from 朝 (cháo), 向 (xiàng), 往 (wàng), which point toward a destination rather than a line of movement. 沿着 (yánzhe) is the more colloquial variant with 着 (zhe).
Examples
我们沿着河边走。
Wǒmen yánzhe hébiān zǒu.
We walk along the river.
Examples
我们沿着河边走。
Wǒmen yánzhe hébiān zǒu.
We walk along the river.
Two short exercises: see how the rule works in a dialogue and in a sentence. No sign-up needed.
Use the structure: 沿 (yán) / 沿着 (yánzhe) + Noun (path) + Verb. For example: 我们沿着河边走。 — “We walk along the river”.
我们沿着河边走。 — “We walk along the river”.
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Level 5.
Tomyo
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
朝 vs 向 vs 往 — direction prepositions
朝 (cháo) / 向 (xiàng) / 往 (wǎng) + Direction + Verb
替 — on someone’s behalf
替 (tì) + Person + Verb
自从 — ever since
自从 (zìcóng) + Event, Subj. + 就 (jiù) / 一直 (yìzhí) + Verb
凭 — on the basis of
凭 (píng) + Noun + Verb
同 vs 较 — formal “with” and “compared with”
同 (tóng) + Participant + Action / 较 (jiào) + Comparison target + Difference
依据 — on the basis of
依据 (yījù) + Noun (basis) + Verb
哪怕 — even if…
哪怕 (nǎpà)⋯⋯,也 (yě)⋯⋯
得不得了 — extremely, unbearably
Adj. + 得不得了 (de bùdéliǎo)
Got the rule? Test yourself
Two exercises, under a minute.