四面八方

sìmiàn-bāfāng

idiom HSK 7-9 #21,131

Meanings

Literally 'four sides, eight directions' — from all directions

人们从四面八方赶来参加庆典。

Rénmen cóng sìmiànbāfāng gǎnlái cānjiā qìngdiǎn.

People came from all directions to attend the celebration.

消息很快传遍了四面八方。

Xiāoxi hěnkuài chuánbiàn le sìmiànbāfāng.

The news quickly spread in all directions.

memory

四面 = the 4 cardinal directions (N/S/E/W), 八方 = those 4 plus the 4 diagonal directions. Together they cover everywhere — all directions.

四 sì

面 miàn

八 bā

方 fāng