方 (Fāng)

surname Fang

Etymology

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".

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“方,併船也。象兩舟省緫頭形。汸,方或从水。”

Original meaning

cutting edge

Components