Meaning of 方向
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- direction; orientation
How to use 方向
方向 is used for physical directions and also for abstract goals, like the direction of your career or a project. Example: 你走错方向了。(Nǐ zǒu cuò fāngxiàng le.) You went the wrong way.
方 (fāng) means side or direction, as in 南方 (nánfāng) south. 向 (xiàng) means toward. Put them together and you get the side you are heading toward: a direction.
Common mistake: Learners often write 向 as 问 (wèn, to ask) or 响 (xiǎng, to sound) because the shapes look alike. Also remember 向 is fourth tone (xiàng), not third like 想 (xiǎng, to think).
方向 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
向 xiàng · towards · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 方向.
| 地方 | dìfang | region; regional (away from the central administration) |
| 方法 | fāngfǎ | method; way; technique; procedure |
| 方面 | fāngmiàn | respect; aspect |
| 方便 | fāngbiàn | convenient; suitable; to facilitate; to make things easy |
| 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) |
| 对方 | duìfāng | the other person; the other side; the other party |
| 双方 | shuāngfāng | bilateral; both sides |
Questions about 方向
What does 方向 mean?
方向 (fāngxiàng) means "direction; orientation" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 方向?
方向 is made of 2 characters: 方 (4 strokes), 向 (6 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.
Is 方向 an HSK word?
Yes. 方向 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do I say I have no sense of direction in Chinese?
Say 我没有方向感 (wǒ méiyǒu fāngxiànggǎn). 方向感 means sense of direction. You can also hear the casual word 路痴 (lùchī) for someone who always gets lost.
Can 方向 mean a goal in life?
Yes. People say 人生方向 (rénshēng fāngxiàng) for life direction, or 我找不到方向 (wǒ zhǎo bú dào fāngxiàng), I feel lost and do not know what to do next.