HSK 6
沿（着）
yán （ zhe ）
沿（着）- Along, alongside
Explanation
沿 yán (or 沿着 yánzhe) is a preposition (a word placed before a noun to indicate a relation: at, with, along...) meaning 'along, following the line of' a road, riverbank, or route.
沿 / 沿着 + [noun indicating a path or terrain] + verb.
沿着湖散步 (strolling along the lake).
when describing a movement action that follows an existing route or edge (a road 路 lù, a lakeshore 湖 hú, a riverbank...). 沿着 emphasizes the state of following along a bit more than 沿, while 沿 is more concise.
placing 沿(着) after the verb (wrong: 散步沿着湖); correctly it must go before the phrase indicating the path; or using 沿 with a single specific destination point — 沿 is only used for an extended route/path, not for a single isolated point.
Examples
He likes to stroll along the lakeshore.
Just keep walking along this road, and you'll be there in a moment.
I followed the road he pointed to and quickly found his house.
Practice
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Learn “沿（着）” effectively
The grammar point “沿（着）” (沿（着）- Along, alongside) is one of the key structures at HSK 6. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
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