TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 (est.) · 字
方
ㄈㄤ · fāng
noun/adj — square; direction; method
字源 FORM — what the parts do
方形rendered bare — no claimed origin
Four straight sides — the square; from it, direction (方向) and method (方法). The old graph carries two tellings: two boats lashed side by side, or a plow's straight crossbar — both pictures of things squared off. As a sound it builds a whole series: 放、房、訪、防.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
兩條船併排綁好，船面平平——站上去，穩的。
Two boats lashed side by side — the deck flat and steady underfoot.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)方形— square常用
→方向、四方— direction; the four quarters
⇒方法、方式— method — a direction for doing
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
例 · Examples
1這張桌子是方的。
The table is square.
2請問車站在哪個方向？方向、四方
Which way to the station?
3這個方法很好用。方法、方式
This method works well.
4對方還沒回答。
The other side hasn't answered.
5他來自南方。
He's from the south.
Underlined 方 is this entry; dotted words carry a gloss — hold ⇧ Shift and hover, or tap.