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方便 (fāng biàn) — convenient, handy; (euphemism) to relieve oneself; to go to the bathroom; (used as a verb) to make things convenient for

Definition

At HSK 3, 方便 is the everyday word for 'convenient' (situations, places, times). It also functions as a verb meaning 'to make things convenient for someone.' 便利 (HSK 5) is more formal/written.

adjective
convenienthandy(euphemism) to relieve oneselfto go to the bathroom(used as a verb) to make things convenient for

Examples

  • 方便。
    Zhè ge chāo shì lí wǒ jiā hěn fāng biàn.
    This supermarket is very convenient from my home.
  • 方便，。
    Wèi le fāng biàn dà jiā, wǒ men huàn le yí gè shí jiān.
    To make it convenient for everyone, we changed the time.
  • ，方便。
    Qǐng děng yí xià, wǒ qù fāng biàn yí xià.
    Please wait a moment, I need to go to the bathroom.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

方fāngmethod
便biànconvenient

方 refers to a method or way, and 便 to convenience; together they describe something easy to do or use.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 方 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

便 pairs 亻 (person) with 更 (to change), showing a person changing posture to become comfortable.

Open 便 →
Appears in
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