附近
fùjìn · HSK 4
vicinity
🏘️ 附 (attach) + 近 (near) = attached nearby = vicinity
附 means to attach or adhere; 近 means near or close. Together they describe places attached close by — the neighborhood or vicinity around a point.
附 — 阝(mound) + 付 (fù, give/attach)
A semantic-phonetic compound: the 阝 'mound/hill' radical hints at meaning while 付 'fù' supplies the sound. Originally referred to a small mound or hill附属 to a larger one, which extended to the modern senses 'attach, append, be near'.
近 — 辶 (walk) + 斤 (axe, phonetic)
近 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The 辶 radical signals movement or distance, while 斤 (axe) supplies the sound. Together they convey the idea of a short distance to walk, hence 'near' or 'close'.