坊

fāng, fáng

土 + 方

Definitions

fāng (noun) lane; alley

fāng (noun) memorial archway

fáng (noun) workshop; mill

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 方 represents the sound.

Semantic: 土 Phonetic: 方

About

坊 is a phonosemantic compound: 土 (earth) on the left side indicates the meaning of land or a place, while 方 on the right provides the sound. Historically, it referred to an administrative division of a city, a neighborhood, residential ward, or alleyway in traditional urban planning. Depending on its pronunciation, it also denotes a dedicated workplace or craft workshop, such as a mill, dyeing house, or small manufacturing storefront, thus bridging the concepts of residential areas and localized commercial production.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个街坊很热心。

Zhège jiēfang hěn rèxīn.

This neighbor is very warm-hearted.

他开了一家小作坊。

Tā kāile yī jiā xiǎo zuōfang.

He opened a small workshop.

我们去茶坊喝茶吧。

Wǒmen qù cháfáng hē chá ba.

Let's go to the tea house to drink tea.

坊间流传着这个故事。

Fāngjiān liúchuán zhe zhège gùshi.

This story is circulating among the people.

这个工坊生产手工艺品。

Zhège gōngfāng shēngchǎn shǒugōngyìpǐn.

This workshop produces handicrafts.

村口有一座古老的牌坊。

Cūnkǒu yǒu yī zuò gǔlǎo de páifāng.

There is an ancient memorial archway at the village entrance.

这家书坊专卖古籍。

Zhè jiā shūfāng zhuānmài gǔjí.

This bookshop specializes in ancient books.

坊市的繁荣反映了经济的活力。

Fāngshì de fánróng fǎnyìng le jīngjì de huólì.

The prosperity of the market district reflects the vitality of the economy.

Related Characters

Component: 土

Component: 方

坊