缘 (yuán) - Fate, destiny, predestined relationship & edge, margin, fringe

缘Tone 2

yuán ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

喻悦

缘 · yuán

Fate, destiny, predestined relationship;

edge, margin, fringe;

along, following;

reason, cause.

Fate, destiny, predestined relationshipedge, margin, fringealong, following

Usage highlights

Fate, destinyEdge, marginPredestined relationshipFor no reasonSource, originAlong, following

Synonyms

  • 分— share, part (as in 缘分)
  • 因— cause, reason (as in 因缘)
  • 命— destiny, fate

Antonyms

  • 无故— without cause, reasonless

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • They met by fate (缘分).
  • The edge of the table (桌缘) is smooth.
  • I followed the riverbank (沿河缘) to find the path.
  • There is no reason (无缘无故) for his anger.

Collocations

  • Fate, destiny(缘分)
  • Edge, margin(边缘)
  • Predestined relationship(姻缘)
  • For no reason(无缘无故)
  • Source, origin(缘起)
  • Along, following(缘溪行)

Idioms

  • Marriage predestined by fate(千里姻缘一线牵)
  • No fate to meet(无缘相见)
  • Cut off worldly attachments(了却尘缘)
  • Fate brings together(缘聚缘散)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Deeply rooted in Buddhist philosophy, referring to the concept of cause, condition, and interdependence (因缘).
  • In Chinese culture, 'yuanfen' (缘分) is a fundamental concept explaining relationships and encounters as predetermined by fate.
  • Used in both spiritual contexts (karma, reincarnation) and everyday situations to describe chance meetings and relationships.

FAQ