彷

A phono-semantic compound, consists of:

彳 (to step slowly) — semantic component, indicates movement or walking;

方 — phonetic component, supplies the pronunciation "bang / fāng."

Original semantic image "moving back and forth, pacing uncertainly."

The character developed two main semantic streams:

1. Physical / psychological movement:

- wandering;

- hesitation;

- uncertainty.

2. Similarity (in compounds).

Through phonetic extension and compound usage, it also gained:

- resemblance;

- similarity.

This second meaning appears mainly in the compound 彷彿 (“as if; similar to”).

방황 (彷徨) — wandering; being lost emotionally

방불 (彷彿) — as if; seemingly

彷 carries a nuance of:

- drifting motion;

- mental uncertainty;

- indistinct resemblance.

It often conveys a poetic or atmospheric feeling.

Related characters:

徨 — to wander

徘 — to pace

徊 — to circle

迷 — to be lost

似 — to resemble

Among these, 彷 is unique in bridging wandering ↔ resemblance.