方

See also: 万

方 U+65B9, 方 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-65B9 ← 斸 [U+65B8] CJK Unified Ideographs 斺 → [U+65BA]

⽅ U+2F45, ⽅ KANGXI RADICAL SQUARE ← ⽄ [U+2F44] Kangxi Radicals ⽆ → [U+2F46]

Translingual

Traditional	方
Simplified	方
Japanese	方
Korean	方

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)

1. 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: 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

• 方 on Wikidata.Wikidata

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): 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 (phaŋ³³, “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, SP): fang¹

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): фон (fon, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): fong¹

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): fong¹

• Gan (Wiktionary): fong¹
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): fong

  (Meixian, Guangdong): fong¹

• Jin (Wiktionary): fon¹
• Min Bei (KCR): bó̤ng
• Min Dong (BUC): huŏng / bŭng
• Min Nan

  (Hokkien, POJ): hng / png / puiⁿ / hong / pang

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

• Wu (Wiktionary): ¹faan
• Xiang (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/
  • (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/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: fong¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɔŋ³³/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: fong¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɔŋ⁴²/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: fong
    • Hakka Romanization System: fong
    • Hagfa Pinyim: fong⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /foŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: fong¹
    • Sinological IPA: /fɔŋ⁴⁴/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: fon¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /fɒ̃¹¹/
• Min Bei
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: bó̤ng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /pɔŋ⁵⁴/
• Min Dong
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: huŏng / bŭng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /huoŋ⁵⁵/, /puŋ⁵⁵/

Note:

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

Min Nan

• (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: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hong
  • Tâi-lô: hong
  • Phofsit Daibuun: hofng
  • IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /hɔŋ⁴⁴/
  • IPA (Quanzhou): /hɔŋ³³/
• (Hokkien: dated in Xiamen, dated in Taiwan)
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: pang
  • Tâi-lô: pang
  • Phofsit Daibuun: pafng
  • IPA (Xiamen, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /paŋ⁴⁴/

Note:

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

• (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.

Wu

• (Shanghainese)
  • Wiktionary: ¹faan
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /fɑ̃⁵³/

Xiang

• (Changsha)
  • Wiktionary: fan¹
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɸan³³/

---

• Middle Chinese: /pʉɐŋ/

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
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/pʉɐŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/pʷiɐŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/piuɑŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/puaŋ/
Li Rong	/piuaŋ/
Wang Li	/pĭwaŋ/
Bernard 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. *[t] 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

1. (obsolete) parallel; side by side
2. (obsolete) parallel boats; raft made of bamboo
3. (obsolete) to match; to be equal to
4. (obsolete) to compare; to set side by side
5. (obsolete) to differentiate; to discriminate
6. (obsolete) to occupy; to take up
7. (mathematics) square; rectangle; cube

   正方形  ―  zhèngfāngxíng  ―  square

   長方形／长方形  ―  chángfāngxíng  ―  rectangle

   方桌  ―  fāngzhuō  ―  square table

8. side; aspect; party

   甲方  ―  jiǎ fāng  ―  Party A

   方面  ―  fāngmiàn  ―  aspect; side

9. place; region; locality

   遠方／远方  ―  yuǎnfāng  ―  faraway place

   方言  ―  fāngyán  ―  dialect; regional variety

10. orientation; direction

    東方／东方  ―  dōngfāng  ―  east

    前方  ―  qiánfāng  ―  front

11. (obsolete) law; rule; reason
12. 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

13. (obsolete) sort; category; kind
14. (obsolete) moral principle and knowledge; learning
15. (obsolete) earth; solid earth; ground
16. (traditional Chinese medicine) prescription

    古方  ―  gǔfāng  ―  ancient prescription

    偏方  ―  piānfāng  ―  folk prescription

17. (mathematics) power

    2的3次方是8。  ―  2 de 3 cìfāng shì 8.  ―  2 to the third power is 8.

18. (mathematics) Short for 平方米 (píngfāngmǐ, “Classifier for square metre.”).
19. (mathematics) Short for 立方米 (lìfāngmǐ, “Classifier for cubic metre.”).
20. 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

21. (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. 4^th century BCE

      Tiānzǐ zhī zhì, dì fāng qiān lǐ, gōng hóu jiē fāng bǎi lǐ. [Pinyin]

      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.

22. upright; honest; irreproachable

    方正  ―  fāngzhèng  ―  upright; righteous

    品行端方  ―  pǐnxíng duānfāng  ―  righteous

23. 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

    • 為人子，方少時，親師友，習禮儀。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
      为人子，方少时，亲师友，习礼仪。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

      From: Three Character Classic, circa 13^th century CE

      Wéi rénzǐ, fāng shàoshí, qīn shīyǒu, xí lǐyí. [Pinyin]

      He who is the son of a man, when he is young, should attach himself to his teachers and friends, and practise ceremonial usages.

    • 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. 4^th century BCE

      Guójiā fāng wēi, zhūhóu fāng èr, jiāng yǐ xí dírén, bùyì nán hū? [Pinyin]

      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 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

      Fāng qí mèng yě, bùzhī qí mèng yě. [Pinyin]

      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. [Pinyin]

      Zhao is now worrying about Qin in the west and Chu in the south; it cannot restrain us with its strength.

    • 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. [Pinyin]

      I am a layman in matters of culture; I would like to study them, but have only just begun to do so.

24. 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

    解決社會問題方能令市道回穩。 [MSC, trad.]
    解决社会问题方能令市道回稳。 [MSC, simp.]

    Jiějué shèhuì wèntí fāng néng lìng shìdào huíwěn. [Pinyin]

    Only after solving social issues can the market recover.

    • 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: 文瑩 (Wenying), 《玉壺清話》, 11^th century CE

      Yīdàn Duàn Shēng yǐ shì xìyù, bànnián fāng dé shì. [Pinyin]

      One day Duan was imprisoned because of some matters, and was released only after half a year.

    Synonym: 才 (cái)

25. at (a specific time)
26. 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. 3^rd century BCE

      Jīn fāng lái, wú yù rǔ zhī, héyǐ yě? [Pinyin]

      [Yan Ying] is now about to visit, and I want to insult him. How should I do so?

27. (dictionaries) Short for 方言 (fāngyán, “dialect”).
28. a surname

    方孝孺  ―  Fāng Xiàorú  ―  Fang Xiaoru (Confucian scholar-bureaucrat of the Ming Dynasty)

Compounds

Derived terms from 方

• 一方 (yīfāng)
• 七方 (Qīfāng)
• 上方 (shàngfāng)
• 下方 (xiàfāng)
• 不方
• 丹方 (dānfāng)
• 乘方 (chéngfāng)
• 九方
• 九方皋
• 五方 (wǔfāng)
• 他方 (tāfāng)
• 付方
• 仙方 (xiānfāng)
• 以古方今
• 何方 (héfāng)
• 侯方域
• 借方 (jièfāng)
• 偏方 (piānfāng)
• 偶方
• 兜喜神方
• 八方 (bāfāng)
• 公方 (gōngfāng)
• 前方 (qiánfāng)
• 北方 (běifāng)
• 十方 (shífāng)
• 千金要方
• 半官方 (bànguānfāng)
• 南方 (nánfāng)
• 古方 (gǔfāng)
• 右方
• 吃十方
• 各方 (gèfāng)
• 各霸一方
• 同方
• 周方
• 四方 (sìfāng)
• 四面八方 (sìmiànbāfāng)
• 土方 (tǔfāng)
• 地方 (dìfang)
• 坍方
• 塌方 (tāfāng)
• 填方
• 外方 (wàifāng)
• 多方 (duōfāng)
• 大方 (dàfāng)
• 天各一方 (tiāngèyīfāng)
• 天方 (Tiānfāng)
• 如日方中 (rúrìfāngzhōng)
• 如醉方醒
• 妙方 (miàofāng)
• 孔方 (kǒngfāng)
• 孔方兄 (kǒngfāngxiōng)
• 官方 (guānfāng)
• 定之方中
• 尚方
• 局方
• 左方
• 己方 (jǐfāng)
• 平方 (píngfāng)
• 我方 (wǒfāng)
• 戒方 (jièfāng)
• 挖方
• 措置乖方
• 收方
• 方丈 (fāngzhàng)
• 方且
• 方人
• 方今 (fāngjīn)
• 方伯
• 方位 (fāngwèi)
• 方便 (fāngbiàn)
• 方俗
• 方信道
• 方名
• 方向 (fāngxiàng)
• 方命
• 方土
• 方城
• 方堙
• 方士 (fāngshì)
• 方夏
• 方外
• 方天戟 (fāngtiānjǐ)
• 方子 (fāngzi)
• 方字
• 方孝孺
• 方家 (fāngjiā)
• 方寸 (fāngcùn)
• 方山
• 方岳
• 方州
• 方巾 (fāngjīn)
• 方幅
• 方式 (fāngshì)
• 方弼
• 方彝
• 方形 (fāngxíng)
• 方心
• 方志 (fāngzhì)
• 方情
• 方才 (fāngcái)
• 方技 (fāngjì)
• 方技略
• 方斯蔑如

• 方明
• 方根 (fānggēn)
• 方格
• 方桃譬李
• 方框
• 方案 (fāng'àn)
• 方桌 (fāngzhuō)
• 方棋 (fāngqí)
• 方正 (fāngzhèng)
• 方步 (fāngbù)
• 方比
• 方法 (fāngfǎ)
• 方照
• 方牧
• 方物
• 方略 (fānglüè)
• 方相
• 方知
• 方程 (fāngchéng)
• 方策 (fāngcè)
• 方糖 (fāngtáng)
• 方罫
• 方舞
• 方舟 (fāngzhōu)
• 方苞
• 方蓬
• 方行
• 方解石 (fāngjiěshí)
• 方言 (fāngyán)
• 方近
• 方隅
• 方面 (fāngmiàn)
• 方音 (fāngyīn)
• 方高坪 (Fānggāopíng)
• 方鼎
• 春方 (chūnfāng)
• 有方 (yǒufāng)
• 朔方 (shuòfāng)
• 校方 (xiàofāng)
• 欺以其方
• 正方 (zhèngfāng)
• 殊方
• 比方 (bǐfang)
• 滓方
• 炎方 (yánfāng)
• 男方 (nánfāng)
• 界方
• 百方 (bǎifāng)
• 盂方水方
• 知方 (zhīfāng)
• 矩步方行
• 石方 (shífāng)
• 禁方
• 秋方
• 立方 (lìfāng)
• 端方
• 至死方休
• 良方 (liángfāng)
• 西方 (xīfāng)
• 走方
• 遐方
• 配方 (pèifāng)
• 陟方
• 零方案
• 鬼方 (Guǐfāng)
• 魔方 (mófāng)
• 如日方升 (rúrìfāngshēng)
• 斗方
• 方几
• 方里
• 三方通話／三方通话
• 不劣方頭／不劣方头
• 來日方長／来日方长 (láirìfāngcháng)
• 僻處一方／僻处一方
• 儀態萬方／仪态万方
• 刓方為圓／刓方为圆
• 削方為圓／削方为圆
• 勞方／劳方 (láofāng)
• 千方百計／千方百计 (qiānfāngbǎijì)
• 千方萬計／千方万计
• 單方／单方 (dānfāng)
• 圓鑿方枘／圆凿方枘
• 圓頭方足／圆头方足
• 圓顱方趾／圆颅方趾
• 圓首方足／圆首方足
• 圜鑿方枘／圜凿方枘
• 外圓內方／外圆内方
• 如夢方醒／如梦方醒 (rúmèngfāngxǐng)
• 寶方／宝方
• 對方／对方 (duìfāng)
• 後方／后方 (hòufāng)
• 想方設法／想方设法 (xiǎngfāngshèfǎ)
• 成方兒／成方儿
• 戴圓履方／戴圆履方
• 據義履方／据义履方
• 敵方／敌方 (dífāng)
• 斲方為圓／斲方为圆
• 方何礙／方何碍
• 方兒／方儿
• 方內／方内
• 方冊／方册 (fāngcè)
• 方劑／方剂 (fāngjì)
• 方勝／方胜
• 方單／方单

• 方國／方国 (fāngguó)
• 方圓／方圆 (fāngyuán)
• 方塊／方块 (fāngkuài)
• 方壺／方壶
• 方天畫戟／方天画戟 (fāngtiān huàjǐ)
• 方將／方将 (fāngjiāng)
• 方嶽／方岳
• 方底圓蓋／方底圆盖
• 方書／方书
• 方會／方会
• 方枘圜鑿／方枘圜凿
• 方格紙／方格纸
• 方框圖／方框图
• 方濟谷派／方济谷派
• 方灘／方滩 (Fāngtān)
• 方磚／方砖
• 方礙／方碍
• 方筆／方笔
• 方纔／方才
• 方聞／方闻
• 方興日盛／方兴日盛
• 方興未艾／方兴未艾 (fāngxīngwèi'ài)
• 方藥／方药 (fāngyào)
• 方術／方术 (fāngshù)
• 方趾圓顱／方趾圆颅
• 方軌／方轨
• 方軒／方轩
• 方輦／方辇
• 方輿／方舆 (fāngyú)
• 方連／方连
• 方針／方针 (fāngzhēn)
• 方鉛礦／方铅矿
• 方鍼／方针
• 方鎮／方镇 (fāngzhèn)
• 方鑿圓枘／方凿圆枘
• 方關／方关
• 方陣／方阵 (fāngzhèn)
• 方響／方响 (fāngxiǎng)
• 方領矩步／方领矩步
• 方頤大口／方颐大口
• 方頭／方头
• 方頭括號／方头括号 (fāngtóu kuòhào)
• 方駕／方驾
• 時方／时方
• 智圓行方／智圆行方
• 未艾方興／未艾方兴
• 東北方／东北方
• 東南方／东南方
• 東方／东方 (dōngfāng)
• 枘圓鑿方／枘圆凿方
• 檢方／检方
• 毀方投圓／毁方投圆
• 毀方瓦合／毁方瓦合
• 比方說／比方说 (bǐfangshuō)
• 氣血方剛／气血方刚
• 無方／无方
• 照方兒抓／照方儿抓
• 畢方／毕方
• 異方／异方
• 療方／疗方
• 百計千方／百计千方
• 直內方外／直内方外
• 省方觀俗／省方观俗
• 省方觀民／省方观民
• 祕方／秘方
• 絕域殊方／绝域殊方
• 絕域異方／绝域异方
• 經方／经方 (jīngfāng)
• 義方／义方
• 聖惠方／圣惠方
• 職方／职方
• 肘後方／肘后方
• 草頭方兒／草头方儿
• 萬方／万方 (wànfāng)
• 藥方／药方 (yàofāng)
• 處方／处方 (chǔfāng)
• 血氣方剛／血气方刚 (xuèqì fānggāng)
• 血氣方壯／血气方壮
• 血氣方盛／血气方盛
• 行不踰方／行不逾方
• 複方／复方 (fùfāng)
• 見方／见方
• 規圓矩方／规圆矩方
• 變化無方／变化无方
• 貴方／贵方 (guìfāng)
• 買方／买方 (mǎifāng)
• 貸方／贷方 (dàifāng)
• 貽誚多方／贻诮多方
• 資方／资方 (zīfāng)
• 賣方／卖方 (màifāng)
• 遊方／游方 (yóufāng)
• 遠方／远方 (yuǎnfāng)
• 邊方／边方
• 鄉方／乡方
• 醫方／医方 (yīfāng)
• 鑿圓枘方／凿圆枘方
• 長方／长方 (chángfāng)
• 開方／开方 (kāifāng)
• 隨方就圓／随方就圆
• 雙方／双方 (shuāngfāng)
• 面方口闊／面方口阔
• 面闊口方／面阔口方
• 驗方／验方 (yànfāng)

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: /bʉɐŋ/

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
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/bʉɐŋ/
Pan Wuyun	/bʷiɐŋ/
Shao Rongfen	/biuɑŋ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/buaŋ/
Li Rong	/biuaŋ/
Wang Li	/bĭwaŋ/
Bernard 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

1. Only used in 方輿／方舆 (Fángyù, “an ancient county in modern Shandong”).
2. to disobey
3. Alternative form of 房 (fáng).
4. 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)

1. Pronunciation spelling of 慌 (huāng).

   我方了！  ―  Wǒ fāng le!  ―  I panic!

2. 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, 方, 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

1. Used in 方羊 and 方洋.
2. Used in 方皇.
3. Alternative form of 旁 (páng).

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

1. 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

1. phon (unit of apparent loudness)

References

• “方”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

Japanese

Kanji

方

(grade 2 “Kyōiku” kanji)

1. direction
2. person
3. alternative
4. (algebra, geometry) square

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)
• 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 bʉɐŋ, pʉɐŋ).

Pronunciation

• On’yomi
• (Tokyo) ほ​ー [hóꜜò] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ho̞ː]

Noun

方(ほう) • (hō) ^{←はう (fau)?}

1. 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)

2. 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

• Kun’yomi
• (Tokyo) かた​ [kàtáꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [ka̠ta̠]

Noun

方(かた) • (kata) 

1. (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) 

1. 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

• 道(みち) (michi)
• 法(ほう) (hō)
• 方法(ほうほう) (hōhō)

Etymology 3

pe > ɸe > we > e.

Suffix

方(え) • (-e) ^{←へ (fe)?}

1. 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
irregular

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).

Alternative forms

• 様

Pronunciation

• (Irregular reading)
• (Tokyo) さま​ [sàmáꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
• IPA^(key): [sa̠ma̠]

Noun

方(さま) • (sama) 

1. a person's appearance (as of body, or style, or face, etc.)
2. the state or situation of a thing
3. the general trend, tenor, or feel of a thing
4. one's social station, status, or quality
5. the way or means of doing something, how one does something
6. the reason or circumstances for something

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): [pa̠ŋ]
• Phonetic hangul: [방]

Hanja

Wikisource

方, eumhun 모 방 (mo bang)

1. 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))
方: Nôm readings: phương, vuông, phăng

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