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

方法对了就容易了。

Fāngfǎ duìle jiù róngyì le.

Once the method is right, it becomes easy.

你是哪个地方的人？

Nǐ shì nǎge dìfang de rén?

Where are you from?

前方到站。

Qiánfāng dào zhàn.

Approaching the next station.

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.