方便 meaning in English
convenient; suitable; to facilitate; to make things easy
Meaning of 方便
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- convenient; suitable
- to facilitate; to make things easy
- having money to spare
- (euphemism) to relieve oneself
How to use 方便
方便 is most often an adjective meaning convenient, but it can also be a verb meaning to make things easier for someone. People also use it politely to ask if a time or situation suits the other person. Example: 你明天方便吗？(Nǐ míngtiān fāngbiàn ma?) Is tomorrow convenient for you?
方 (fāng) means a way or method, and 便 (biàn) means easy or handy. Put them together and you get a way that is easy: convenient.
Common mistake: Learners often read 便 as pián because they know 便宜 (piányi, cheap). In 方便 it is always biàn, with a fourth tone.
方便 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
方 fāng · square · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
便 biàn · plain · 9 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Related words
Words that share a character with 方便.
| 地方 | dìfang | region; regional (away from the central administration) |
| 方法 | fāngfǎ | method; way; technique; procedure |
| 随便 | suíbiàn | as one wishes; as one pleases |
| 方向 | fāngxiàng | direction; orientation |
| 方面 | fāngmiàn | respect; aspect |
| 便宜 | piányi | convenient |
| 南方 | nánfāng | south; southern direction; (in China) southern regions, often referring to areas south of |
| 北方 | běifāng | north; the northern part a country |
| 西方 | xīfāng | the West; the Occident |
| 东方 | dōngfāng | east |
| 方便面 | fāngbiànmiàn | instant noodles |
| 方式 | fāngshì | way; method; manner; mode; pattern (of behavior etc) |
Questions about 方便
What does 方便 mean?
方便 (fāngbiàn) means "convenient; suitable; to facilitate; to make things easy" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 方便?
方便 is made of 2 characters: 方 (4 strokes), 便 (9 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 方便 an HSK word?
Yes. 方便 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 方便一下 mean?
方便一下 (fāngbiàn yíxià) is a polite euphemism for going to the toilet. You may also hear 我去方便一下 (Wǒ qù fāngbiàn yíxià), meaning I am going to use the restroom.
How do I say it is not convenient to talk?
Say 现在不方便 (xiànzài bù fāngbiàn), meaning now is not a good time. It is a soft, polite way to decline a call or a visit without giving details.