他方 (tā fāng) — (formal) other place, elsewhere; (formal) the other side, the other party (in a dispute or negotiation)

Definition

Formal/literary noun for 'the other place' or 'the other side (in a dispute, contract, or perspective).' Pairs with 这方/本方 to frame two opposing parties or viewpoints.

noun
(formal) other placeelsewhere(formal) the other sidethe other party (in a dispute or negotiation)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 他方。
    tā fāng Dài biǎo zài huì yì shàng tí chū le bù tóng yì jiàn.
    The representative from the other side raised different opinions at the meeting.
  • 他方。
    Zhè ge wèn tí xū yào cóng tā fāng de jiǎo dù lái kǎo lǜ.
    This issue needs to be considered from the perspective of the other party.
  • 他方。
    tā fāng Dì qū de qì hòu yǔ wǒ men zhè lǐ wán quán bù tóng.
    The climate in other regions is completely different from ours.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

他tāother
方fāngside/place

“他” means other and “方” means side or place, so together they mean the other side or elsewhere.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě他tā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

他 combines 亻 (a person) with 也, which was chosen for its sound.

Open 他 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 方 →

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