法 fǎ — law, method · English

法

fǎ

law, method

At a glance · 法

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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 seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

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

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

金文、小篆作「灋」，从水（平正）从廌（触邪之兽）从去，会意刑狱公平。后省作「法」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「法」本指刑律、准则，象征公平如水面。

Structure

会意字，从水从廌从去（灋），以水喻平，廌触不直。

At a glance

Pinyinfǎ

Radical氵

Strokes8

UnicodeU+6CD5

Character type会意

Theme政事

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English law, method Law, rule, method; fairness.

Français loi, méthode Loi, règle, méthode; équité.

Español ley, método Ley, regla, método; equidad.

العربية قانون، طريقة قانون أو طريقة أو عدل.

Русский закон, метод Закон, правило, метод; справедливость.

Common words

法律fǎ lǜlaw
方法fāng fǎmethod

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