Difference between 身边 and 旁边?

[keannu2]

Regarding the following text, I have a question like this.

What is the difference between "身边“  and "旁边"? My guess is like this.

1.我在他的身边 - metaphorical, abstract closeness

2. 我在他的旁边 - physical location

 

In Korean, we also use "身边", whose meaning is a little bit different from that of "곁, 옆(旁边)".

 

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A chinese friend of my wifes rang up on the phone. At that time I was lying on the bed reading a book, my wife was lying beside me doing the same. I answered the phone and said. Yes she is here, you can talk to her. "Wo zai ta shangbian". Actually I meant to say "wo zai ta SHEN bian"

So the meaning came out as "I am on top of her" instead of "I am beside her".

 

Moderator note: split from here, where someone posted that anecdote about the phonecall.