方 (fāng): square; direction; method

Meanings

1 square; direction; method
2 just now; place

Characters

方

fāng

square; direction; method

One of the most versatile characters: appears in 方法 (method), 地方 (place), 方向 (direction), and 方便 (convenient).

Examples

HSK 1

你是哪个地方的人？

Nǐ shì nǎge dìfang de rén?

Where are you from?

HSK 1

前方到站。

Qiánfāng dào zhàn.

Approaching the next station.

HSK 3

方法对了就容易了。

Fāngfǎ duìle jiù róngyì le.

Once the method is right, it becomes easy.

Tips

usage

方 is extremely productive: 方法 (method), 地方 (place), 方向 (direction), 方面 (aspect), 方便 (convenient), 方式 (way/manner), 对方 (the other party). One of the most versatile characters.

Components

pictograph

方 fāng

square; direction; method

Its own Kangxi radical (#70). Originally a pictograph of two boats lashed together (a raft) or a plough breaking earth - both readings are attested in oracle-bone forms. From the parallel-side-by-side image came the senses of square, side, direction. Modern compounds like 方法 (method) descend from the side / way of doing. Not decomposable; the whole shape is the picture.

Radical

Square Kangxi #70

Originally a pictograph of two boats lashed together, extended to ideas of side-by-side, square, and direction. As a radical it gathers a coherent set of characters about flags, banners, and travel - 旗 (flag), 旅 (travel), 族 (clan), 旋 (revolve), 施 (carry out). The standalone meanings (way, place, side) are extremely common.