method; way; means; CL:個|个[ge4]
方 · 4 strokes
Depicts the cutting edge (一) of a knife blade (刀). Similar in origin to 亡. Based on the original meaning "cutting edge". The meaning later expanded to "perimeter", "area", and "square".
法 · 8 strokes
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 去 represents the sound. Originally written as 灋.