方
The 方 radical
Square, direction
Memory hook
Originally square-shaped, hence direction. In many characters it is instead a flying banner: 旗 (flag), 旅 (to travel under a standard), 族 (a clan gathered under one banner).
The 方 radical (read fāng) means square, direction. The HSK 3.0 data contains 7 characters and 77 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 方 radical
Study this radical's 77 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 方 radical
7 charactersHSK 1· 2 characters
HSK 1方
square
旁
side
HSK 2· 1 characters
HSK 2旅
to travel; travel
HSK 3· 1 characters
HSK 3族
ethnic group, nationality
HSK 4· 1 characters
HSK 4施
to carry out, to bestow
HSK 6· 2 characters
HSK 6旋
to spin; to rotate
旗
flag; banner
Vocabulary with the 方 radical
77 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 方 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (49/77 words of this radical).
place, locality
place; location
beside, next to
the East; the Orient
the north
the South
convenient
instant noodles
direction
method
aspect; respect; side
passenger; traveler
on one hand; on the one side (used to list different aspects of an issue)
the Chinese nation
both parties; both sides
on the other hand; from another angle
the other party; the other side
way; method; manner
travel agency
hotel
ethnic group; nationality; nation
place, region, area
generous
official, governmental
to implement, to carry out
square (area)
measure, step
square
plan, scheme
guiding principle, policy
side
example, analogy
ahead, in front
national flag
many aspects, many sides
square meter
small inn, lodging house
to rotate; to spin; to revolve
ethnic group, nationality
faraway place, the distance
beside, to one side
above; the upper part
folk remedy, unofficial prescription
all-around, comprehensive
by every possible means, in a thousand ways
unilateral, one-sided (referring to an action carried out by one party without the other party's consent or participation)
to deal with, to cope with
all directions, everywhere
prescription
Why learn vocabulary by the 方 radical?
The 方 radical hints at the meaning square, direction. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 7 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 77 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.