<p>This notation “方” is not short for “方言”.</p>

<p>“方” in “方言、前方” means region. </p>

<p>It's “方正(方方正正)”, which means honesty or integrity. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-02T04:13:34.677Z
2019-01-02T05:52:03.457Z
2019-01-02T05:52:03.457Z
PandaDD
<blockquote>
<p>【方】</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Is short for 方言.</p>
<p>方言 is defined by <a href="https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&amp;wdrst=0&amp;wdqtm=0&amp;wdqcham=2&amp;wdqt=%E6%96%B9%E8%A8%80" rel="noreferrer">mdbg</a> as:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>topolect / dialect</p>
</blockquote>
<hr />
<p>Why <em>saggy</em> is considered topolectical or dialectical, though, is beyond me.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-02T14:08:10.713Z
This is the correct answer; I should have checked the front of the dictionary per fefe’s comment: it reads “【方】方言 dialect”.
Patrick Dark
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-01T14:54:44.167Z
2019-01-01T14:54:44.167Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Mou某
<p>In a dictionary entry reading…</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>saggy</strong> <em>adj.</em>【方】下垂的；垂曲的；中陷的。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>…, what does the notation <code>【方】</code> mean?</p>
<p>(Other examples of this notation that I understand include “【美俗】” (American slang), “【解剖】” (anatomy), and “【數學】” (mathematics).)</p>
<p>I’d prefer source material in an answer.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-01T11:03:19.713Z
stands for 方言, dialect, local speech
user6065
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-01T13:30:10.003Z
source material:袖珍英汉辞典 A Pocket English-Chinese Dictionary 商务印书馆 １９７２ 北京 缩写语 （方）。。。方言
user6065
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-02T04:33:03.713Z
Usually the dictionary itself would list all such abbreviation used in the beginning of the dictionary.
fefe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-02T09:46:06.570Z
http://www.zdic.net/z/1b/js/65B9.htm
mootmoot
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-02T14:12:00.097Z
For whatever reason, it didn’t occur to me to check the front of the dictionary; I looked up “方” on Wiktionary instead which says nothing about dialects or topolects. “place; region; locality” is the closest definition listed. It didn’t help that the word “方言” was missing from my vocabulary.
Patrick Dark
<dictionary><notation>
What does the notation 【方】 mean in a Chinese dictionary?
# What does the notation 【方】 mean in a Chinese dictionary?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-01)

In a dictionary entry reading…

> **saggy** *adj.*【方】下垂的；垂曲的；中陷的。

…, what does the notation `【方】` mean?

(Other examples of this notation that I understand include “【美俗】” (American slang), “【解剖】” (anatomy), and “【數學】” (mathematics).)

I’d prefer source material in an answer.

**Tags:** dictionary, notation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: stands for 方言, dialect, local speech  
> **username_1**: source material:袖珍英汉辞典 A Pocket English-Chinese Dictionary 商务印书馆 １９７２ 北京 缩写语 （方）。。。方言  
> **username_2**: Usually the dictionary itself would list all such abbreviation used in the beginning of the dictionary.  
> **username_3**: http://www.zdic.net/z/1b/js/65B9.htm  
> **username_0**: For whatever reason, it didn’t occur to me to check the front of the dictionary; I looked up “方” on Wiktionary instead which says nothing about dialects or topolects. “place; region; locality” is the closest definition listed. It didn’t help that the word “方言” was missing from my vocabulary.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-01-01. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

> 【方】

Is short for 方言.

方言 is defined by [mdbg](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqtm=0&wdqcham=2&wdqt=%E6%96%B9%E8%A8%80) as:

> topolect / dialect

---

Why *saggy* is considered topolectical or dialectical, though, is beyond me.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This is the correct answer; I should have checked the front of the dictionary per username_2’s comment: it reads “【方】方言 dialect”.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2019-01-02. Score: -3

This notation “方” is not short for “方言”.

“方” in “方言、前方” means region.

It's “方正(方方正正)”, which means honesty or integrity.


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