緣 (yuán) - Edge, margin, fringe & fate, destiny, predestined relationship

緣Tone 2

yuán ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

喻悦

緣 · yuán

Edge, margin, fringe;

fate, destiny, predestined relationship;

along, following;

reason, cause;

because of.

Edge, margin, fringefate, destiny, predestined relationshipalong, following

Usage highlights

Fate, destinyEdge, hemCause, reasonFollowing alongPredestined affinitySource, origin

Synonyms

  • 因— Cause, reason
  • 故— Reason, cause
  • 由— Reason, cause

Antonyms

  • 果— Effect, result (antonym to the 'cause' sense)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • They met by fate (缘分).
  • The edge of the table (桌缘) is smooth.
  • Following the river (缘河而行) we found the village.
  • Because of this reason (缘此), we decided to leave.

Collocations

  • Fate, destiny(缘分)
  • Edge, hem(边缘)
  • Cause, reason(缘故)
  • Following along(缘木求鱼)
  • Predestined affinity(姻缘)
  • Source, origin(缘起)

Idioms

  • Climb a tree to seek fish — use the wrong method(缘木求鱼)
  • Fate brings us together across a thousand miles(千里姻缘一线牵)
  • No fate to be together(无缘无故)
  • Follow the vine to get the melon — investigate the cause(顺藤摸瓜 / 缘藤得瓜)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Buddhism, 缘 refers to 'pratītyasamutpāda' — dependent origination, the concept that all phenomena arise in dependence on multiple causes and conditions.
  • The character embodies the idea that relationships and encounters are not random but result from karmic causes from past lives.
  • In traditional Chinese thought, 缘 is a fundamental concept explaining why people meet and events occur.

FAQ