方便

Chinese

		square; quadrilateral; place square; quadrilateral; place; region; direction; side; method; way; prescription; power; upright; just	advantageous; cheap; ordinary advantageous; cheap; ordinary; plain; convenient; handy; easy; then; so; thus; to relieve oneself
simp. and trad. (方便)		方	便

Adjective

(deprecated template usage) 方便

1. convenient

   更加方便  ―  gèngjiā fāngbiàn  ―  even more convenient

   這個服務很方便。 [MSC, trad.]
   这个服务很方便。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhè ge fúwù hěn fāngbiàn. [Pinyin]

   This service is very convenient.

   這個技術能讓我們的生活更方便。 [MSC, trad.]
   这个技术能让我们的生活更方便。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhè ge jìshù néng ràng wǒmen de shēnghuó gèng fāngbiàn. [Pinyin]

   This technology can make our lives more convenient.

2. available; free (to do something)

   我五點不方便。／我五点不方便。  ―  Wǒ wǔ diǎn bù fāngbiàn.  ―  I'm not available at five o'clock.

3. suitable; appropriate

   這裡說話不方便。 [MSC, trad.]
   这里说话不方便。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhèlǐ shuōhuà bù fāngbiàn. [Pinyin]

   This isn't the right place to talk about it.

4. (euphemistic) having extra money; having money to spare

   你方便的話，借我五十元。 [MSC, trad.]
   你方便的话，借我五十元。 [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ fāngbiàn dehuà, jiè wǒ wǔshí yuán. [Pinyin]

   Could you spare me 50 yuan?

Synonyms

• (convenient):

(deprecated template usage)

• 便利 (biànlì)
• 便宜 (biànyí)
• 便易 (bīng-ĭ) (Northern Min)
• 便民 (biànmín) (attributive, of a shop, service, etc.)
• 便當／便当 (regional)
• 利便 (Hokkien, literary or Hakka)
• 就手 (zau⁶ sau²) (Cantonese)
• 快便 (Quanzhou Hokkien, Xiamen Hokkien)
• 省事 (shěngshì)
• 簡便／简便 (jiǎnbiàn)
• 順手／顺手 (shùnshǒu)

 

Verb

方便

1. to make convenient; to provide convenience; to make things easy for people; to facilitate

   為了方便學生購買回家車票，學校已開展各種活動。 [MSC, trad.]
   为了方便学生购买回家车票，学校已开展各种活动。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wèile fāngbiàn xuéshēng gòumǎi huíjiā chēpiào, xuéxiào yǐ kāizhǎn gèzhǒng huódòng. [Pinyin]

   The school has launched a number of programs to make it convenient for students to purchase tickets home.

2. (Mandarin, euphemistic) to use the toilet (bathroom); to relieve oneself

   我想去方便一下。 [MSC, trad. and simp.]

   Wǒ xiǎng qù fāngbiàn yīxià. [Pinyin]

   I'd like to go to the bathroom.

Synonyms

• (relieve oneself): 便溺 (biànniào), 解手 (jiěshǒu), 解溲 (jiěsōu)

(deprecated template usage)

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (方便):

• → Japanese: 方便(ほうべん) (hōben)
• → Korean: 방편(方便) (bangpyeon)
• → Vietnamese: phương tiện (方便)

Others:

• → Zhuang: fuengbienh

Further reading

• “Entry #993”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2023.

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Japanese

Kanji in this term
方	便
ほう Grade: 2	べん Grade: 4
on'yomi

Noun

方(ほう)便(べん) • (hōben) 

1. expedient, means

   嘘(うそ)も方便(ほうべん)

   uso mo hōben

   circumstances may justify a lie

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Korean

Hanja in this term
方	便

Noun

方便 • (bangpyeon) (hangeul 방편)

1. hanja form^? of 방편 (“expedient, means”)

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Vietnamese

chữ Hán Nôm in this term
方	便

Noun

方便

1. chữ Hán form of phương tiện (“method”).