方

See also: 万

方	U+65B9, 方 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-65B9

← 斸

CJK Unified Ideographs

斺 →

⽅	U+2F45, ⽅ KANGXI RADICAL SQUARE

← ⽄

Kangxi Radicals

⽆ →

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方

Translingual

Traditional	方
Simplified	方
Japanese	方
Korean	方

Stroke order

Stroke order (alternative)

Stroke order

Stroke order (alternative)

Han character

See images of
Radical 70 方

方 (Kangxi radical 70, 方+0, 4 strokes, cangjie input 卜竹尸 (YHS), four-corner 0022₇, composition ⿱丶万)

Kangxi radical #70, ⽅.

Derived characters

Appendix:Chinese radical/方
邡, 放, 瓬, 鴋, 㝑, 芳, 房, 昘, 雱, 髣, 臱, 閍(𨸂), 圀, 堃, 敖, 敫, 㡢, 矈
仿, 㕫, 坊, 妨, 彷, 㤃, 㧍, 汸, 防, 䢍, 昉, 枋, 牥, 肪, 祊, 眆, 䄱, 紡(纺), 舫, 蚄, 訪(访), 趽, 鈁(钫), 魴(鲂), 䲱

Additional Derived Characters

𪟀, 𢁸, 𢎷, 𢨲, 𬊀, 𤤁, 𭽍, 𬒂, 𫁊, 𫋳, 𭁌, 𪭫, 𮇉, 𫎒, 𭠈, 𩖫, 𩚠, 𩨣, 𩲠, 𪕃, 𬬐
𠛍, 𪴩, 𣬵, 𨾔, 𩲌, 𣁅, 𧘩, 𬙙, 𥫳, 𢦷, 𡇅, 𣪧, 𦴪, 𨘋

References

Kangxi Dictionary: page 481, character 3
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 13620
Dae Jaweon: page 842, character 5
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 3, page 2172, character 1
Unihan data for U+65B9

Chinese

simp. and trad.		方

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 方
Shang	Western Zhou	Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (方) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
縍	*paːŋ
榜	paːŋʔ, praːŋs, *braːŋ
蒡	paːŋʔ, braːŋ
牓	*paːŋʔ
螃	paːŋʔ, paːŋs, *baːŋ
搒	paːŋs, braːŋ
舫	paːŋs, paŋs
謗	*paːŋs
雱	*pʰaːŋ
磅	pʰaːŋ, pʰraːŋ
霶	*pʰaːŋ
滂	*pʰaːŋ
鎊	*pʰaːŋ
髈	pʰaːŋʔ, baːŋ
彷	baːŋ, pʰaŋʔ
趽	baːŋ, paŋ, *paŋs
房	baːŋ, baŋ
篣	baːŋ, braːŋ
騯	baːŋ, praːŋ, *braːŋ
傍	baːŋ, baːŋs
膀	*baːŋ
旁	*baːŋ
徬	*baːŋs
閍	*praːŋ
祊	*praːŋ
嗙	*praːŋ
方	paŋ, baŋ
汸	*paŋ
坊	paŋ, baŋ
邡	paŋ, pʰaŋs
枋	*paŋ
鈁	*paŋ
蚄	*paŋ
肪	paŋ, baŋ
鴋	paŋ, baŋ
牥	*paŋ
昉	*paŋʔ
瓬	*paŋʔ
放	paŋʔ, paŋs
倣	*paŋʔ
芳	*pʰaŋ
淓	*pʰaŋ
妨	pʰaŋ, pʰaŋs
紡	*pʰaŋʔ
仿	*pʰaŋʔ
髣	*pʰaŋʔ
鶭	*pʰaŋʔ
訪	*pʰaŋs
防	baŋ, baŋs
魴	*baŋ

Ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意): 一 + 刀 (“sword”) – blade; tip of a blade. Original form of 芒 (OC *maːŋ, *maŋ, “awn (of cereal); tip (of blade)”); later borrowed to mean “side”. Other theories regarding the origin of this character also exist.

It is unrelated to 㫃 (“fluttering flag”), from which characters like 旗 (OC *ɡɯ, “flag”) and 旅 (OC *ɡ·raʔ, “troops”) are derived.

Etymology 1

"side; square; region": Probably related to 旁 (OC *baːŋ), 傍 (OC *baːŋ, *baːŋs) (Schuessler, 2007).
"parallel boats": Cognate with 舫 (OC *paːŋs, *paŋs, “boat”), 艕 (“boat”). According to STEDT, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *poŋ (“raft; float”); compare Burmese ဖောင် (hpaung, “raft”), Jingpho hpong (“kac”). According to Schuessler (2007), this etymon is an area word; compare Thai พ่วง (pûuang, “raft; pontoon”), Proto-Austronesian *qabaŋ (“boat”), Old Mon kɓaŋ (“ship; boat”).
"just now"; "now": Cognate with 甫 (OC *paʔ, “just now”). Compare Jingpho hpang (“to begin”), Proto-Kuki-Chin *pran (“to begin”) (STEDT).
"method; law": Etymology not certain. May be the same word as 方 (OC *paŋ, “side; square; region”). Cognate with 仿 (OC *pʰaŋʔ, “to imitate”). Perhaps cognate with Tibetan བྱང་བ (byang ba, “skill; experience”), Tibetan སྦྱངས (sbyangs, “trained; exercised studied”) (Schuessler, 2007). Alternatively, it may belong to Khmer ព្រាង (priəng, “to draft; to sketch”) < Khmer រាង (riəng, “shape; form; figure”). If so, it belongs to an Austroasiatic allofam which includes 狀 (OC *zraŋs, “form; appearance”). "Law; norm; standard" is a common extension of "form; shape".

Pronunciation 1

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): fāng (fang¹)

(Zhuyin): ㄈㄤ

(Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): fang¹

(Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): fǎng

(Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): фон (fon, I)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): fong¹

(Dongguan, Jyutping++): fong¹

(Taishan, Wiktionary): fong¹
Gan (Wiktionary): fong¹
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): fong

(Hailu, HRS): fong^ˋ

(Meixian, Guangdong): fong¹
Jin (Wiktionary): fon¹
Northern Min (KCR): bó̤ng
Eastern Min (BUC): huŏng / bŭng
Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): hng¹ / horng¹
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): hng / png / puiⁿ / pang / hong

(Teochew, Peng'im): bang¹ / hng¹ / bung¹ / beng¹ / huang¹

(Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): bhang¹
Southern Pinghua (Nanning, Jyutping++): fung¹
Wu (Northern, Wugniu): ¹faon
Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): fan¹

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: fāng
  - Zhuyin: ㄈㄤ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: fang
  - Wade–Giles: fang¹
  - Yale: fāng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: fang
  - Palladius: фан (fan)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɑŋ⁵⁵/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: fang¹
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: fang
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /faŋ⁵⁵/
- (Xi'an)
  - Guanzhong Pinyin: fǎng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /faŋ²¹/
- (Dungan)
  - Cyrillic and Wiktionary: фон (fon, I)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɑŋ²⁴/
  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
  - Jyutping: fong¹
  - Yale: fōng
  - Cantonese Pinyin: fong¹
  - Guangdong Romanization: fong¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɔːŋ⁵⁵/
- (Dongguan, Guancheng)
  - Jyutping++: fong¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɔŋ²¹³/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: fong¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɔŋ³³/
Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: fong¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɔŋ⁴²/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: fong
  - Hakka Romanization System: fong
  - Hagfa Pinyim: fong⁴
  - Sinological IPA: /foŋ⁵⁵/
- (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
  - Hakka Romanization System: fong^ˋ
  - Sinological IPA: /foŋ⁵³/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: fong¹
  - Sinological IPA: /fɔŋ⁴⁴/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: fon¹
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /fɒ̃¹¹/
Northern Min
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: bó̤ng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /pɔŋ⁵⁴/
Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: huŏng / bŭng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /huoŋ⁵⁵/, /puŋ⁵⁵/

Note:

huŏng - literary;
bung - vernacular (“piece“).

Puxian Min
- (Putian)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: hng¹
  - Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: hng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hŋ̍⁵³³/
- (Xianyou)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: hng¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hŋ̍⁵⁴⁴/
- (Putian)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: horng¹
  - Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: ho̤ng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hɒŋ⁵³³/
- (Xianyou)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: horng¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /hɒŋ⁵⁴⁴/

Note:

hng1 - vernacular (more commonly used in surname);
horng1 - literary (less commonly used in surname).

Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hng
  - Tâi-lô: hng
  - Phofsit Daibuun: hngf
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /hŋ̍⁴⁴/
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /hŋ̍³³/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Lukang, Sanxia, Kinmen, Magong, Hsinchu, Taichung, Singapore)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: png
  - Tâi-lô: png
  - Phofsit Daibuun: pngf
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Lukang): /pŋ̍³³/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Kinmen, Singapore): /pŋ̍⁴⁴/
- (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Yilan, Penang)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: puiⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: puinn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: pvuy
  - IPA (Zhangzhou, Yilan): /puĩ⁴⁴/
  - IPA (Penang): /puĩ³³/
- (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, dated in Xiamen, dated in Taiwan)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: pang
  - Tâi-lô: pang
  - Phofsit Daibuun: pafng
  - IPA (Zhangzhou, Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /paŋ⁴⁴/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hong
  - Tâi-lô: hong
  - Phofsit Daibuun: hofng
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /hɔŋ⁴⁴/
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /hɔŋ³³/

Note:

hng - vernacular (“prescription; place”);
png/puiⁿ - vernacular (surname);
pang - vernacular, in 四方 (sì-pang);
hong - literary.

(Teochew)
- Peng'im: bang¹ / hng¹ / bung¹ / beng¹ / huang¹
- Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: pang / hng / pung / pṳng / huang
- Sinological IPA ^(key): /paŋ³³/, /hŋ³³/, /puŋ³³/, /pɯŋ³³/, /huaŋ³³/

Note:

bang1 - vernacular (“square; power; unit of measurement”);
hng1 - vernacular (“prescription”);
bung1/beng1 - vernacular (surname) (beng1 - Jieyang);
huang1 - literary.

(Leizhou)
- Leizhou Pinyin: bhang¹
- Sinological IPA: /baŋ³⁵/

Southern Pinghua
- (Nanning Pinghua, Tingzi)
  - Jyutping++: fung¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fʊŋ⁵³/
Wu
- (Northern: Shanghai, Suzhou)
  - Wugniu: ¹faon
  - MiniDict: faon^平
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ¹faan
  - Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /fɑ̃⁵³/
  - Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /fɑ̃⁴⁴/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: fan¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɸan³³/

Middle Chinese: pjang

Rime
Character	方
Reading #	2/2
Initial (聲)	幫 (1)
Final (韻)	陽 (106)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Closed
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	府良切
Baxter	pjang
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/pʉɐŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/pʷiɐŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/piuɑŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/puaŋ/
Li Rong	/piuaŋ/
Wang Li	/pĭwaŋ/
Bernhard Karlgren	/piwaŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	fāng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	fong¹

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*C-paŋ/, /*paŋ/

(Zhengzhang): /*paŋ/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	方	方	方
Reading #	1/3	2/3	3/3
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	fāng	fāng	fāng
Middle Chinese	‹ pjang ›	‹ pjang ›	‹ pjang ›
Old Chinese	/*C-paŋ/	/*paŋ/	/*paŋ/
English	square	method	just, then
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. * as coda may in fact be -t or -p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	方
Reading #	1/2
No.	3023
Phonetic component	方
Rime group	陽
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	方
Old Chinese	/*paŋ/
Notes	甲金文象槳即榜初文，下初爲單筆，猶旂左初亦作單杆

Definitions

方

(obsolete) parallel; side by side
(obsolete) parallel boats; raft made of bamboo
- 江之永矣，不可方思。
  From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Jiāng zhī yǒng yǐ, bùkě fāng sī.
  The length of the Jiang
  Cannot be navigated with a raft.
(obsolete) to match; to be equal to
(obsolete) to compare; to set side by side
(obsolete) to differentiate; to discriminate
(obsolete) to occupy; to take up
(mathematics) square; rectangle; cube
正方形 ― zhèngfāngxíng ― square

長方形／长方形 ― chángfāngxíng ― rectangle

方桌 ― fāngzhuō ― square table
side; aspect; party
甲方 ― jiǎ fāng ― Party A

方面 ― fāngmiàn ― aspect; side
place; region; locality
遠方／远方 ― yuǎnfāng ― faraway place

方言 ― fāngyán ― dialect; regional variety
orientation; direction
東方／东方 ― dōngfāng ― east

前方 ― qiánfāng ― front
(obsolete) law; rule; reason
method; way
千方百計／千方百计 ― qiānfāngbǎijì ― by every conceivable means

教導有方／教导有方 ― jiàodǎo yǒufāng ― to teach with the right method
(obsolete) sort; category; kind
(obsolete) moral principle and knowledge; learning
(obsolete) earth; solid earth; ground
(traditional Chinese medicine) prescription
古方 ― gǔfāng ― ancient prescription

偏方 ― piānfāng ― folk prescription
(mathematics) power
2 的 3 次方是 8。 ― 2 de 3 cìfāng shì 8. ― 2 to the third power is 8.
(mathematics) short for 平方米 (píngfāngmǐ, “Classifier for square metre.”)
(mathematics) short for 立方米 (lìfāngmǐ, “Classifier for cubic metre.”)
Classifier for square objects.
一方手帕 ― yī fāng shǒupà ― one handkerchief

兩方圖章／两方图章 ― liǎng fāng túzhāng ― two seal
(literary, preceding a measurement of length to indicate area) area surrounding (something); surroundings; vicinity
- 天子之制，地方千里，公侯皆方百里。
  From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE
  Tiānzǐ zhī zhì, dì fāng qiān lǐ, gōng hóu jiē fāng bǎi lǐ.
  To the Son of Heaven there was allotted a territory of a thousand li square. A Gong and a Hou had each a hundred li square.
upright; honest; irreproachable
方正 ― fāngzhèng ― upright; righteous

品行端方 ― pǐnxíng duānfāng ― righteous
just; just when; at the time when; just now; now
方興未艾／方兴未艾 ― fāngxìngwèi'ài ― to be now rising or flourishing and have not yet stopped
- 國家方危，諸侯方貳，將以襲敵人，不亦難乎？
  国家方危，诸侯方贰，将以袭敌人，不亦难乎？
  From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE
  Guójiā fāng wēi, zhūhóu fāng èr, jiāng yǐ xí dírén, bùyì nán hū?
  The State is now in a perilous condition, and the other States are now disaffected towards it; shall we not find it a difficult enterprise to invade an enemy in such circumstances?
- 方其夢也，不知其夢也。
  方其梦也，不知其梦也。
  From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE
  Fāng qí mèng yě, bùzhī qí mèng yě.
  When they were dreaming, they did not know it was a dream.
- 趙方西憂秦，南憂楚，其力不能禁我。
  赵方西忧秦，南忧楚，其力不能禁我。
  From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
  Zhào fāng xī yōu Qín, nán yōu Chǔ, qí lì bùnéng jìn wǒ.
  Zhao is now worrying about Qin in the west and Chu in the south; it cannot restrain us with its strength.
just; only
書到用時方恨少／书到用时方恨少 ― shū dào yòng shí fāng hèn shào ― to regret not acquiring enough knowledge only when it comes time to apply it
- 一旦段生以事繫獄，半年方得釋。
  一旦段生以事系狱，半年方得释。
  From: 11^th century CE, 文瑩 (Wenying), 玉壺清話
  Yīdàn Duàn Shēng yǐ shì xìyù, bànnián fāng dé shì.
  One day Duan was imprisoned because of some matters, and was released only after half a year.
- 今年方四十上下年紀，只有薛蟠一子。
  今年方四十上下年纪，只有薛蟠一子。
  From: Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18^th century CE
  Jīnnián fāng sìshí shàngxià niánjì, zhǐ yǒu Xuē pán yī zǐ.
  (please add an English translation of this usage example)
- 對於文化問題，我是門外漢，想研究一下，也方在開始。
  对于文化问题，我是门外汉，想研究一下，也方在开始。
  From: 1940, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《新民主主義論》 (On New Democracy), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition
  Duìyú wénhuà wèntí, wǒ shì ménwàihàn, xiǎng yánjiū yīxià, yě fāng zài kāishǐ.
  I am a layman in matters of culture; I would like to study them, but have only just begun to do so.
Synonym: 才 (cái)
at (a specific time); when
- 為人子，方少時，親師友，習禮儀。
  为人子，方少时，亲师友，习礼仪。
  From: Three Character Classic, circa 13^th century CE
  Wéi rénzǐ, fāng shàoshí, qīn shīyǒu, xí lǐyí.
  He who is the son of a man, when he is young, should attach himself to his teachers and friends, and practise ceremonial usages.
will; going to
- 今方來，吾欲辱之，何以也？
  今方来，吾欲辱之，何以也？
  From: Annals of Master Yan, c. 3^rd century BCE
  Jīn fāng lái, wú yù rǔ zhī, héyǐ yě?
  is now about to visit, and I want to insult him. How should I do so?
- 今治水軍八十萬眾，方與將軍會獵於吳。
  今治水军八十万众，方与将军会猎于吴。
  From: Pei Songzhi, Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 5^th century CE
  Jīn zhì shuǐjūn bāshí wàn zhòng, fāng yǔ jiāngjūn huìliè yú Wú.
  (please add an English translation of this usage example)
(lexicography) short for 方言 (fāngyán, “dialect”)
a surname
方孝孺 ― Fāng Xiàorú ― Fang Xiaoru (Confucian scholar-bureaucrat of the Ming Dynasty)

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (方):

→ Japanese: 方(ほう) (hō)
→ Korean: 방(方) (bang)
→ Vietnamese: phương (方)

Others:

→ English: Fang, Fong, Png
→ Vietnamese: vuông

Pronunciation 2

Mandarin
(Pinyin): fáng (fang²)

(Zhuyin): ㄈㄤˊ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: fáng
  - Zhuyin: ㄈㄤˊ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: fáng
  - Wade–Giles: fang²
  - Yale: fáng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: farng
  - Palladius: фан (fan)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɑŋ³⁵/

Middle Chinese: bjang

Rime
Character	方
Reading #	1/2
Initial (聲)	並 (3)
Final (韻)	陽 (106)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Closed
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	符方切
Baxter	bjang
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/bʉɐŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/bʷiɐŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/biuɑŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/buaŋ/
Li Rong	/biuaŋ/
Wang Li	/bĭwaŋ/
Bernhard Karlgren	/bʱiwaŋ/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	fáng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	fong⁴

Old Chinese
(Zhengzhang): /*baŋ/

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	方
Reading #	2/2
No.	3056
Phonetic component	方
Rime group	陽
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	房
Old Chinese	/*baŋ/

Definitions

方

only used in 方輿／方舆 (Fángyù, “an ancient county in modern Shandong”)
to disobey
alternative form of 房
alternative form of 防 (fáng)

Etymology 2

Rendering of a dialectal pronunciation of 慌 (huāng).

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): fāng (fang¹)

(Zhuyin): ㄈㄤ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: fāng
  - Zhuyin: ㄈㄤ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: fang
  - Wade–Giles: fang¹
  - Yale: fāng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: fang
  - Palladius: фан (fan)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɑŋ⁵⁵/

Definitions

方 (Mainland China, neologism, slang)

Pronunciation spelling of 慌 (huāng, “to panic”).
我方了！ ― Wǒ fāng le! ― I panic!
Pronunciation spelling of 慌 (huāng, “panicky”).
好方！ ― Hǎo fāng! ― So panicky!

Etymology 3

For pronunciation and definitions of 方 – see 仿 (“to imitate; to resemble; to be similar; etc.”). (This character is a variant form of 仿).

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): páng (pang²)

(Zhuyin): ㄆㄤˊ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: páng
  - Zhuyin: ㄆㄤˊ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: páng
  - Wade–Giles: pʻang²
  - Yale: páng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: parng
  - Palladius: пан (pan)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /pʰɑŋ³⁵/

Definitions

方

used in 方羊 and 方洋
used in 方皇
alternative form of 旁

Etymology 5

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): wǎng (wang³)

(Zhuyin): ㄨㄤˇ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: wǎng
  - Zhuyin: ㄨㄤˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: wǎng
  - Wade–Giles: wang³
  - Yale: wǎng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: woang
  - Palladius: ван (van)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /wɑŋ²¹⁴/

Definitions

方

only used in 方良

Etymology 6

Borrowed from English phon.

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): fēng (feng¹)

(Zhuyin): ㄈㄥ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: fēng
  - Zhuyin: ㄈㄥ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: fong
  - Wade–Giles: fêng¹
  - Yale: fēng
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: feng
  - Palladius: фэн (fɛn)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɤŋ⁵⁵/

Definitions

方

phon (unit of apparent loudness)

Compounds

References

“方”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

Japanese

Kanji

方

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

Go-on: ほう (hō, Jōyō)^{←はう (fau, historical)}
Kan-on: ほう (hō, Jōyō)^{←はう (fau, historical)}
Kun: かた (kata, 方, Jōyō)、え (e, 方)^{←へ (fe, 方, historical)}、さま (sama, 方)
Nanori: まさ (masa)

Compounds

Derived terms

方正(ほうせい) (hōsei)
方響(ほうきょう) (hōkyō): hōkyō, an instrument similar to the Chinese fangxiang
方形(ほうけい) (hōkei)
方磬(ほうけい) (hōkei): hōkyō, an instrument similar to the Chinese fangxiang
方式(ほうしき) (hōshiki)
方術(ほうじゅつ) (hōjutsu)
方法(ほうほう) (hōhō): way, method, manner
方面(ほうめん) (hōmen)
方針(ほうしん) (hōshin)
夕(ゆう)方(がた) (yūgata)
味(み)方(かた) (mikata)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
方
ほう Grade: 2
on'yomi

From Middle Chinese 方 (MC bjang|pjang).

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) ほー (Atamadaka – )
IPA^(key):

Noun

方(ほう) • (hō) ^{←はう (fau)^?}

direction, way, side
鬼(おに)さんこちら、手(て)の鳴(な)る方(ほう)へ
oni-san kochira, te no naru hō e
hey, "it", over here, to (the direction of) the clapping of the hands (phrase said in tag)
more so (preceded by ～の, often followed by ～が)
この時計(とけい)の方(ほう)がそっちより高(たか)いです。
Kono tokei no hō ga sotchi yori takai desu.
This watch is more expensive than that one.

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
方
かた Grade: 2
kun'yomi

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) かた (Odaka – )
IPA^(key):

(suffix):

In the Tokyo dialect, when 方 (-kata) attaches to the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of a verb, the resulting noun has an unpredictable accent.

As a general principle, when it attaches to a 平板式 (heiban-shiki) verb, the resulting noun tends to also be 平板式 (heiban-shiki), and when it attaches to a 起伏式 (kifuku-shiki) verb, the resulting noun tends to also be 起伏式 (kifuku-shiki). In the case of 起伏式 (kifuku-shiki), the アクセント核 (akusento-kaku, “accent kernel”) falls on either the penultimate (か) or the ultimate (た) mora, but frequently both accents are permissible. This principle has numerous exceptions in both directions.

言(い)う (iu): いう (Heiban – ) → いいかた (Heiban – )
書(か)く (kaku): かく (Atamadaka – ) → かきかた (Nakadaka) or かきかた (Odaka)

In other dialects, deviations from the above outline are observed.

Noun

方(かた) • (kata)

(polite) person
あの方(かた)。
Ano kata.
That person. (polite)

あの方(かた)はどなたですか。
Ano kata wa donata desu ka.
Who is that gentleman? (formal)

Synonyms

(plain) 人(ひと) (hito)

Suffix

方(かた) • (-kata)

way, method (of doing)
書(か)き方(かた)
kakikata
way of writing something; how to write something

使(つか)い方(かた)
tsukaikata
way of using something; how to use something

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
方
え Grade: 2
kun'yomi

/pe/ → /ɸe/ → /we/ → /e/.

Suffix

方(え) • (-e) ^{←へ (-fe)^?}

a suffix expressing location, direction, or time

Derived terms

古(いにしえ) (inishie)
行方(ゆくえ) (yukue)

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
方
さま Grade: 2
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 方 – see the following entry.

【さま】

a person's appearance (as of body, or style, or face, etc.)

the state or situation of a thing

the general trend, tenor, or feel of a thing

one's social station, status, or quality

the way or means of doing something, how one does something

the reason or circumstances for something

(archaic, honorific) second-person pronoun: you, you all

(archaic, honorific) third-person distal pronoun: he, she, they (distant from both speaker and listener)

(honorific) polite personal suffix: honorable, Mr., Ms.

(honorific) attaching to nouns or other nominals: a politeness marker that often has no direct translation, replacing copula です (desu)

attaching to specific nouns or other nominals: that way, that direction

(archaic) attaching to verbs: just as (indicating the specific time when the verb is happening)

attaching to verbs: the way of doing something, how one does something (often undergoes rendaku, changing -sama to -zama)

Alternative spellings
様, 状

(This term, 方, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN

Korean

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Middle Korean readings, if any”)

Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
Phonetic hangul:

Hanja

Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

方

Wikisource

方 (eumhun 모 방 (mo bang))

hanja form^? of 방 (“direction”)

Compounds

방향 (方向, banghyang)
방법 (方法, bangbeop)
방식 (方式, bangsik)
사방 (四方, sabang)
금방 (今方, geumbang)
서방 (西方, seobang)
전방 (前方, jeonbang)
방위 (方位, bang'wi)
방면 (方面, bangmyeon)
상대방 (相對方, sangdaebang)
처방 (處方, cheobang)
방침 (方針, bangchim)
방안 (方案, bang'an)
변방 (邊方, byeonbang)
방도 (方道, bangdo)
후방 (後方, hubang)
방편 (方便, bangpyeon)
동방 (東方, dongbang)
방책 (方策, bangchaek)
근방 (近方, geunbang)
북방 (北方, bukbang)
동남방 (東南方, dongnambang)
사방 (巳方, sabang)
지방 (地方, jibang)
한방약 (韓方藥, hanbang'yak)
방편 (方便, bangpyeon)
임시방편 (臨時方便, imsibangpyeon)
남방 (南方, nambang)
방정식 (方程式, bangjeongsik)
간방 (艮方, ganbang)
서방극락 (西方極樂, seobanggeungnak)
쌍방 (雙方, ssangbang)

Vietnamese

Han character

方: Hán Việt readings: phương (府(phủ)良(lương)切(thiết))
方: Nôm readings: phương, vuông, phăng

chữ Hán form of phương (“way; direction; means; method”)

Compounds

References

[DJR-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[NHK-2] 2.0 ^2.1 NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN

[tdcndg-3] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Nguyễn (2014).

[tdcntd-4] 2.0 ^2.1 Nguyễn et al. (2009).

[gdhn-5] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Trần (2004).

[btcn-6] Hồ (1976).

Translingual

Han character

Derived characters

References

Further reading

Chinese

Glyph origin

Etymology 1

Pronunciation 1

Definitions

Descendants

Pronunciation 2

Definitions

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

Definitions

Etymology 3

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

Definitions

Etymology 5

Pronunciation

Definitions

Etymology 6

Pronunciation

Definitions

Compounds

References

Japanese

Kanji

Readings

Compounds

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

Noun

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

Noun

Synonyms

Suffix

See also

Etymology 3

Suffix

Derived terms

Etymology 4

References

Korean

Etymology

Pronunciation

Hanja

Compounds

Vietnamese

Han character

Compounds

References

Wikious

Boobota

Sagapedia