方向

• Pinyin: fāng xiàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 方 (fāng) — direction, square; 向 (xiàng) — towards, facing

Meaning

Direction; orientation. Refers to a physical direction or a figurative course of action.

Used for both literal compass directions and figurative meanings such as the direction of one's career or studies. Commonly paired with 走错 (go the wrong way) or 找到 (find).

Examples

1. 你走错方向了，应该往右走。 You went the wrong way — you should go right.
2. 我不知道车站在哪个方向。 I don't know which direction the station is.
3. 他找到了自己的学习方向。 He found his own direction in studies.

Usage Guide

Context: navigation, planning, everyday

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 请问，地铁站在哪个方向？(Excuse me, which direction is the subway station?)
• 我们的方向是对的。(We're going in the right direction.)

Don't Say

• 不要混淆'方向'和'方面' — 方向 is for physical direction or general course, 方面 is for abstract aspects (Don't say 学习方向很努力 when you mean 学习方面).

Origin & History

Compound of 方 (direction, square) and 向 (towards, facing). Together they specify a spatial or figurative orientation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal