沿…而…
along (a river, range or road), going or lying that way
Structure
沿 河流／山脉／道路 而 单音节动词（上、下、行、建、居）
What it means
Along a river, coast, range or road, going or lying that way: a compact written frame.
How it is built
沿 + river／coast／road + 而 + one-syllable verb of moving or lying (上, 下, 行, 建, 居): 古镇沿河而建 (the old town is built along the river).
When to use it
Geography, history and travel writing: 沿江而下 (downstream), 沿河而上 (upstream), 沿街而行, 沿河而居. In speech say 沿着河往上走 or 顺着河边住.
Watch out
The verb after 而 is normally one syllable and takes no object: ✗ 沿河而建了很多房子 ✓ 很多房子沿河而建.
Examples
东段边界沿格尔必齐河而上，再顺着外兴安岭一直往东。
In the east the border ran up the Gorbitsa and then along the Stanovoy Range eastwards.
这座古镇沿河而建，家家门前都有一座小桥。
The old town is built along the river, and every house has a little bridge at its door.
船队沿长江而下，三天后到达上海。
The fleet sailed down the Yangtze and reached Shanghai three days later.
Learn this in Lesson 204 · HSK 7–9: 雅克萨与尼布楚 (Albazin and Nerchinsk)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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