Usage note
方表示方向、地方，也可表示一边。
fāng biǎo shì fāng xiàng 、 dì fāng， yě kě biǎo shì yì biān。
方 means direction, place, or one side.
Context note
方常用于位置、方法和称呼。
fāng cháng yòng yú wèi zhì 、 fāng fǎ hé chēng hu。
It is often used with position, methods, and titles.
5 examples
往东方走。
wǎng dōng fāng zǒu。
Walk toward the east.
这个地方很安静。
zhè ge dì fāng hěn ān jìng。
This place is very quiet.
双方都同意。
shuāng fāng dōu tóng yì。
Both sides agreed.
四方来客。
sì fāng lái kè。
Guests came from all directions.
请往这方看。
qǐng wǎng zhè fāng kàn。
Please look this way.
5 mini stories
老师指着前方说继续走。
lǎo shī zhǐ zhe qián fāng shuō jì xù zǒu。
The teacher pointed forward and said to keep walking.
他们来自四面八方。
tā men lái zì sì miàn bā fāng。
They came from all directions.
这个地方风景很美。
zhè ge dì fāng fēng jǐng hěn měi。
This place has beautiful scenery.
双方坐下来讨论。
shuāng fāng zuò xià lái tǎo lùn。
Both sides sat down to discuss.
他把书包放在一方。
tā bǎ shū bāo fàng zài yì fāng。
He put the schoolbag to one side.
Mini dialogue
找方向
A
请问，学校在哪个方向？
Qǐngwèn, xuéxiào zài nǎge fāngxiàng?
Excuse me, which direction is the school?
B
往东走，就在前方。
Wǎng dōng zǒu, jiù zài qiánfāng.
Go east, it's just ahead.
方形饼干
A
这块饼干是方的吗？
Zhè kuài bǐnggān shì fāng de ma?
Is this biscuit square?
B
对，是方形的，很整齐。
Duì, shì fāngxíng de, hěn zhěngqí.
Yes, it's square-shaped, very neat.
Related words and contrasts
contrast
圆
yuán
circle; round
方 (square) vs. 圆 (round) are contrasting shapes.
related
方向
fāngxiàng
direction
方 means direction in words like 方向.
related
方法
fāngfǎ
method; way
方 appears in 方法, meaning method.