彷 meaning and stroke order
Similar, alike; to resemble
How to write 彷, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 彷
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- used in 彷徨[pang2 huang2] and 彷徉[pang2 yang2]
How 彷 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Step.
彳 gives the meaning and 方 hints at the sound.
Radical: 彳 (to step with the left foot), shared by 42 characters on this site.
How to remember 彷
The left part 彳 means a step, and 方 (fāng) gives the sound and means direction. Picture someone taking steps in every direction, unsure where to go, which fits 彷徨 (pánghuáng), to wander and hesitate.
彷 rarely stands alone. It is read páng in 彷徨 (pánghuáng), to waver or feel lost, and fǎng in 彷彿 (fǎngfú), which means "as if" and is now usually written 仿佛. Example: 他在路口彷徨了很久。(Tā zài lùkǒu pánghuáng le hěn jiǔ.) He hesitated at the crossroads for a long time.
Common mistake: Learners often read 彷徨 as fǎnghuáng, but in this word the correct reading is páng. Also avoid confusing 彷 with 仿 (fǎng, to imitate). 仿 uses the person radical 亻, while 彷 uses the step radical 彳.
Common words with 彷
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 彷徨 | pánghuáng | to pace back and forth, not knowing which way to turn; to hesitate; to waver |
Questions about 彷
How many strokes are in 彷?
彷 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 彷 mean?
彷 (fǎng) means similar, alike; to resemble. A common word with it is 彷徨 (pánghuáng), meaning "to pace back and forth, not knowing which way to turn; to hesitate; to waver".
How do you pronounce 彷?
彷 is pronounced fǎng, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 彷?
The radical of 彷 is 彳, which carries the idea of "to step with the left foot". Dictionaries list 彷 under this radical.
Is 彷彿 the same as 仿佛?
Yes. Both mean "as if" or "seemingly" and are read fǎngfú. In modern simplified Chinese, 仿佛 is the standard form you will see most often.
What does 彷徉 mean?
彷徉 (pángyáng) means to roam or wander about leisurely. It is a literary word and much less common than 彷徨.