涘 (sì) - riverbank & waterside

涘Tone 4

sì ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

涘 · sì

riverbank;

waterside;

edge of a body of water.

riverbankwatersideedge of a body of water.

Usage highlights

riverbankwatersideriver's edgeshore of a streamseashorelake shore

Synonyms

  • 岸— bank; shore
  • 滨— water's edge; shore
  • 畔— side; bank

Antonyms

  • 中— middle; center (as opposed to edge)
  • 心— heart; center

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He stood on the riverbank (河涘).
  • The boat approached the waterside (水涘).
  • They met by the shore (江涘).
  • Flowers grew along the stream's edge (溪涘).

Collocations

  • riverbank(河涘)
  • waterside(水涘)
  • river's edge(江涘)
  • shore of a stream(溪涘)
  • seashore(海涘)
  • lake shore(湖涘)

Idioms

  • In the Book of Songs: 'By the river's banks'(在河之涘)
  • Classical reference to a distant shore(秋水之涘)
  • Poetic term for a waterside location(清漪之涘)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Appears in classical Chinese poetry and texts, such as the Book of Songs (诗经), to describe scenic or metaphorical riverbanks.
  • Often used in literary contexts to evoke a sense of place, journey, or reflection near water.
  • Carries a classical, somewhat archaic tone in modern usage, making it rare in everyday language but valued in artistic or naming contexts.

FAQ