方

• Geometric/Spatial: Square, rectangle, or four-sided; the cardinal directions or a specific "quarter" of the world; a side, flank, or wing (particularly in military formations).
• Locality: A region, district, or province; used to denote "local" or a place of origin.
• Methodological: A strategy, formula, or specific way of achieving a result; specifically, in medical or technical contexts, a recipe or pharmaceutical formula (//fāngjì// 方劑).

• Noun/Adjective: Used for the spatial and methodological senses listed above.
• Temporal Adverb: In early prose, functions as a marker of aspect or timing, indicating an action that is "just about to" happen or is "currently in the process of" happening.
• Classifier: Used for square or rectangular objects (more frequent in later vernacular texts).

• Contrast with 法 (//fǎ//): While //fǎ// typically denotes an overarching law or principle, //fāng// tends toward specific application, the concrete formula, or the "how-to."

// Tang-period reading: //biɑng.

When selecting a sense, distinguish between the spatial and methodological poles: prioritize "direction" or "region" when appearing alongside terms of travel or geography, and "method," "formula," or "prescription" when appearing alongside terms of governance, learning, or medicine. If the glyph precedes a verb in an early text, test it as a temporal marker ("just about to").