方

方 is a pictogram derived from the shape of a plow with handles on both sides. Because two people would carry it, meanings such as left and right (左右), arranging things in a line, and comparing arose. From these, the meanings expanded to include direction, method, and various others.

The origin of the character 方 is also said to be from two log boats placed side by side, or it is sometimes described as resembling a cross-shaped figure similar to a crucifix.

According to the Shuowen Jiezi, the character 㫃 (a fluttering flag shape, pronounced "eon") was once treated as a separate radical, but later reanalyzed as 方 + 人 and merged under the 方 radical.

As a result, characters that use 方 as a radical often carry meanings related to “flags” rather than the more common modern interpretation of “direction.”

Examples of such characters include:

旁 (side, bang)

於 (a classical particle, eo)

斺 (to bind, gae)

旀 (moreover, myeo)

旔 (swift, geon)

Notably, 於 originally comes from an alternate form of 烏 (crow, o) and is not structurally or semantically related to 方 or 㫃, despite appearances.