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四面八方 (sì miàn bā fāng) — from all directions; all around; everywhere; far and near

Definition

Literally 'four sides, eight directions' — emphasizes people or things coming from every direction at once. 四处 is more general ('everywhere'); 四通八达 describes roads/transport being well-connected.

phrase
from all directionsall aroundeverywherefar and near

Examples

  • 四面八方。
    Xiāo xi hěn kuài chuán dào le sì miàn bā fāng.
    The news quickly spread in all directions.
  • 四面八方，。
    Guǎng chǎng shàng sì miàn bā fāng dōu shì rén, fēi cháng rè nao.
    There were people all around the square, very lively.
  • 四面八方。
    Jiù yuán duì wu cóng sì miàn bā fāng gǎn lái zhī yuán zāi qū.
    Rescue teams rushed to support the disaster area from all directions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

四面four sides
四sìfour面miànside
偏正Modifier + head
八方eight directions
八bāeight方fāngdirection
偏正Modifier + head

四面 and 八方 together picture every side and direction around a place.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 四 was drawn as a nose breathing out. It later came to be used for the word four.

Open 四 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

Open 面 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

八 shows two bent lines, indicating the original meaning 'to divide'; it was later used for 'eight' because the words sounded alike.

Open 八 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 方 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9DirectionsIdioms & Set Phrases

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