方
square, direction
At a glance · 方
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
方字甲骨文象耒（农具）之形或并舟之形，本义为方、方国，引申为方形、方向。金文、小篆承之。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
方本义说法不一，多指方形、方向、方国。
Structure
方为象形字，描摹农具或并舟之形，后引申为方形。
At a glance
Pinyinfāng
Radical方
Strokes4
UnicodeU+65B9
Character type象形
Theme其他
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
square, direction
Fang was originally a pictograph of a plow or paired boats and extended to mean square and direction.
Français
carré, direction
Fang était à l'origine un pictogramme de charrue ou de bateaux jumelés et a signifié carré et direction.
Español
cuadrado, dirección
Fang era originalmente un pictograma de arado o botes juntos y pasó a significar cuadrado y dirección.
العربية
مربع، اتجاه
فانغ كان في الأصل رسماً لمحراث أو قاربين متجاورين ثم عنى المربع والاتجاه.
Русский
квадрат, направление
Фан изначально было пиктограммой плуга или сдвоенных лодок и расширилось до квадрата и направления.
Common words
- 方向fāng xiàngdirection
- 方法fāng fǎmethod