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方向 (fāng xiàng) — direction, orientation

Definition

方向 is the everyday noun for a physical direction or orientation (e.g., which way to go). Unlike 方位, it doesn't emphasize compass positions; unlike 倾向/走向, it refers to a literal direction, not an abstract trend.

noun
directionorientation
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 方向，。
    fāng xiàng Cuò le, yīng gāi wǎng nà biān zǒu.
    The direction is wrong; we should go that way.
  • 方向？
    Nǐ néng gào sù wǒ xué xiào de fāng xiàng ma?
    Can you tell me the direction to the school?
  • 方向，。
    Tā zǒu cuò le fāng xiàng, suǒ yǐ lái wǎn le.
    He went in the wrong direction, so he arrived late.

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fāngdirection
向xiàngdirection

方 and 向 both give the sense of direction, so together they name the direction something faces or moves.

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.

向 originally drew 宀 (house) with 口 to show an echo in a place; later it was used for direction.

Open 向 →
Appears in
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