方
fāng
HSK 5
#60 most
frequent character
square, power or involution (mathematics)
noun
adjective
Measure Word
Character breakdown
Source: Make Me a Hanzi.
方 began as a marked knife, so its first meaning was 'to cut apart with a knife'. From that came 'direction', 'area', 'land', 'rectangle', and 'method'. The sense 'only if' was borrowed for the sound alone.
Drawn as: marked knife
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Example Sentences
这块方形的桌子很好看。
zhè kuài fāngxíng de zhuōzǐ hěnhǎo kàn 。
This square table looks beautiful.
在数学中，方的意思是一个四边相等的图形。
zài shùxué zhōng ， fāng de yìsī shì yígè sìbiān xiāngděng de túxíng 。
In mathematics, 'square' means a shape with four equal sides.
五方是中国古代哲学中的一个重要概念。
wǔ fāng shì zhōngguó gǔdài zhéxué zhōngde yígè zhòngyào gàiniàn 。
'Five Directions' is an important concept in ancient Chinese philosophy.
Words with similar meanings
Homophones
Words Starting With 方
方便fāng biàn
convenient; to help out; to make things easy for people; convenience; suitable; having money to spare; (euphemism) to go to the toilet
方向fāng xiàng
direction; orientation; path to follow
方法fāng fǎ
method; way; means
方面fāng miàn
respect; aspect; field; side
方式fāng shì
way (of life); pattern; style; mode; manner
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