. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
you have here. The definition of the word
will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Commons:Category
Translingual
Stroke order
Stroke order (alternative)
Stroke order
Stroke order (alternative)
Han character
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
仿 , 𪟀 , 㕫 , 坊 , 妨 , 𢁸 , 𢎷 , 彷 , 㤃 , 㧍 , 汸 , 防 , 䢍 , 𢨲 , 昉 , 枋 , 𬊀 , 牥 , 𤤁 , 肪 , 祊 , 𭽍 , 眆 , 𬒂 , 䄱 , 𫁊 , 𫋳 , 𭁌 , 𪭫 , 𮇉 , 紡 (纺 ), 舫 , 蚄 , 訪 (访 ), 𫎒 , 趽 , 鈁 (钫 ), 𭠈 , 𩖫 , 𩚠 , 𩨣 , 𩲠 , 魴 (鲂 ), 䲱 , 𪕃 , 𬬐
𠛍 , 邡 , 放 , 𪴩 , 𣬵 , 瓬 , 𨾔 , 𩲌 , 鴋 , 𣁅 , 𧘩 , 㝑 , 芳 , 房 , 昘 , 𬙙 , 𥫳 , 雱 , 髣 , 臱 , 𢦷 , 閍 (𨸂 ), 𡇅 , 圀 , 堃 , 敖 , 敫 , 𣪧 , 𦴪 , 𨘋 , 㡢 , 矈
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
Further reading
Chinese
Glyph origin
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
(Dungan , Cyrillic and Wiktionary ) : фон (fon, I)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou –Hong Kong , Jyutping ) : fong1
(Taishan , Wiktionary ) : fong1
Gan (Wiktionary ) : fong1
Hakka
(Sixian , PFS ) : fong
(Hailu , HRS ) : fongˋ
(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 / hong / pang
(Teochew , Peng'im ) : bang1 / hng1 / bung1 / beng1 / huang1
(Leizhou , Leizhou Pinyin ) : bhang1
Wu (Northern , Wugniu ) : 1 faon
Xiang (Changsha , Wiktionary ) : fan1
Note :
huŏng - literary;
bung - vernacular (“piece“).
Note :
hng1 - vernacular (more commonly used in surname);
horng1 - literary (less commonly used in surname).
Southern Min
(Hokkien : Xiamen , Quanzhou , Zhangzhou , General Taiwanese )
(Hokkien : Xiamen , Quanzhou , Taipei , Kaohsiung , Tainan , Lukang , Sanxia , Kinmen , Magong , Hsinchu , Taichung , Singapore )
(Hokkien : Zhangzhou , Yilan , Penang )
(Hokkien : Xiamen , Quanzhou , Zhangzhou , General Taiwanese )
(Hokkien : Zhangzhou , dated in Xiamen , dated in Taiwan )
Note :
hng - vernacular (“prescription; place”);
png/puiⁿ - vernacular (surname);
hong - literary;
pang - in 四方 (sì-pang ).
(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.
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
( 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 ― zhèngfāng xíng ― square
長方 形 / 长方 形 ― chángfāng xíng ― rectangle
方 桌 ― fāng zhuō ― square table
side ; aspect ; party
甲 方 ― jiǎ fāng ― Party A
方 面 ― fāng miàn ― aspect ; side
place ; region ; locality
遠方 / 远方 ― yuǎnfāng ― faraway place
方 言 ― fāng yán ― 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 ― qiānfāng bǎijì ― 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 。 [Classical Chinese , trad. and simp. ] From: Mencius , c. 4th 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 ― fāng zhèng ― 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 ― fāng xìngwèi'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 ? [Classical Chinese , trad. ] 国家 方 危 ,诸侯 方 贰 ,将 以 袭 敌人 ,不亦 难 乎 ? [Classical Chinese , simp. ] From: Commentary of Zuo , c. 4th 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 。 [Classical Chinese , trad. ] 方 其 梦 也 ,不知 其 梦 也 。 [Classical Chinese , simp. ] From: Zhuangzi , circa 3rd – 2nd 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 。 [Classical Chinese , trad. ] 赵 方 西 忧 秦 ,南 忧 楚 ,其 力 不能 禁 我 。 [Classical Chinese , simp. ] 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 。 [Classical Chinese , trad. ] 一旦 段 生 以 事 系狱 ,半年 方 得 释 。 [Classical Chinese , simp. ] From: 11th 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 。 [Written Vernacular Chinese , trad. ] 今年 方 四十 上下 年纪 ,只 有 薛 蟠 一 子 。 [Written Vernacular Chinese , simp. ] From: Cao Xueqin , Dream of the Red Chamber , mid-18th 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 。 [MSC , trad. ] 对于 文化 问题 ,我 是 门外汉 ,想 研究 一下 ,也 方 在 开始 。 [MSC , simp. ] 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
will ; going to
今 方 來 ,吾 欲 辱 之 ,何以 也 ? [Classical Chinese , trad. ] 今 方 来 ,吾 欲 辱 之 ,何以 也 ? [Classical Chinese , simp. ] From: Annals of Master Yan , c. 3rd 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 。 [Literary Chinese , trad. ] 今 治 水军 八十 万 众 ,方 与 将军 会猎 于 吴 。 [Literary Chinese , simp. ] From: Pei Songzhi , Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms , circa 5th 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
Others :
Pronunciation 2
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
Definitions
方 ( Mainland China , neologism , slang )
The template Template:zh-pronunciation spelling of does not use the parameter(s): gloss=to ] Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning. Pronunciation spelling of 慌 (huāng ).
我 方 了 ! ― Wǒ fāng le! ― I panic !
The template Template:zh-pronunciation spelling of does not use the parameter(s): gloss=] Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning. Pronunciation spelling of 慌 (huāng ).
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
Definitions
方
Used in 方羊 and 方洋 .
Used in 方皇 .
Alternative form of 旁
Etymology 5
Pronunciation
Definitions
方
Only used in 方良 .
Etymology 6
Borrowed from English phon .
Pronunciation
Definitions
方
phon (unit of apparent loudness)
Compounds
References
Japanese
Kanji
方
(Second grade kyōiku kanji )
direction
person
alternative
( algebra , geometry ) square
Readings
Compounds
Etymology 1
From Middle Chinese 方 (MC bjang| pjang ).
Pronunciation
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
Pronunciation
( 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.
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
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
See also
Etymology 3
pe > ɸe > we > e.
Suffix
方( え ) • (-e ) ←へ ( -fe ) ?
a suffix expressing location, direction, or time
Derived terms
Etymology 4
From Old Japanese . Originally a compound of さ ( sa , “ that ” , pronominal indicating a person, place, thing, or direction in the middle distance ) + ま ( ma , “ likeness, way, similarity ” , suffix indicating a quality ) .[ 3]
Pronunciation
Noun
方( さま ) • (sama )
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
References
↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Matsumura, Akira , editor (2006 ), 大辞林 [Daijirin ] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo : Sanseidō , →ISBN
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute , editor (1998 ), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary ] (in Japanese), Tokyo : NHK Publishing, Inc. , →ISBN
^ Shōgaku Tosho (1988 ) 国語大辞典(新装版) [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition) ] (in Japanese), Tōkyō : Shogakukan , →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
Hanja
Wikisource
方 (eumhun 모 방 ( mo bang ) )
hanja form? of 방 ( “ direction ” )
Compounds
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 ) )[ 1] [ 2] [ 3]
方 : Nôm readings: phương [ 1] [ 2] [ 3] , vuông [ 1] [ 3] [ 4] , phăng [ 1]
chữ Hán form of phương ( “ way ; direction ; means ; method ” ) .
Compounds
References