direction; orientation
HSK level
方向 is written with 10 strokes (方: 4, 向: 6). The animation replays automatically.
方向 (fāngxiàng) is the Chinese noun for 'direction' or 'orientation' — the way something faces or moves, used both literally (north, left, the direction of a road) and figuratively (the direction of one's career, research, or life).
It is register-neutral and extremely common. English speakers should note two things: first, when losing physical bearings, Chinese says 分不清方向 ('can't tell the directions') and 迷失方向, where 方向 covers the whole sense of orientation rather than a single compass point; second, figuratively 方向 names a goal or trajectory ('research direction' 研究方向, 'the right direction' 正确的方向), much like English 'a direction' meaning a purpose. Distinguish it from 方面 (aspect, a facet of a topic) — 方向 is where you head, 方面 is which part you examine.
Character by character
Memory hook: 方 (direction) + 向 (toward) = the way you are 'facing toward' — direction.
你走错方向了。
Nǐ zǒu cuò fāngxiàng le.
You went the wrong direction.
spoken
太阳从东边升起，这样我们就能分清方向。
Tàiyáng cóng dōngbian shēngqǐ, zhèyàng wǒmen jiù néng fēnqīng fāngxiàng.
The sun rises in the east, so we can tell the directions.
neutral
我觉得公司的发展方向是对的。
Wǒ juéde gōngsī de fāzhǎn fāngxiàng shì duì de.
I think the company's direction of development is right.
neutral
在人生的十字路口，他不知道该往哪个方向走。
Zài rénshēng de shízì lùkǒu, tā bù zhīdào gāi wǎng nǎge fāngxiàng zǒu.
At life's crossroads, he didn't know which direction to take.
written
方位 is a precise bearing or compass position (东南方位 southeast bearing), more technical. 方向 is the everyday word for direction and also works figuratively; 方位 rarely does.
Acquire it by listening
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