(fǎng) - to seem & to be like

Tone 3

fǎng | 7 strokes | radical: 彳

· fǎng

to seem;

to be like;

to wander;

to hesitate;

to pace back and forth

to seemto be liketo wander

Usage highlights

seeminglyhesitatewander aimlesslyindecisiveat a loss

Synonyms

  • 仿佛seemingly; as if
  • 彷徨to hesitate; to wander
  • 徘徊to pace back and forth; to hesitate

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He seems to be in a daze (彷徨).
  • I seem to have seen this before (仿佛见过).
  • She wandered aimlessly on the street (彷徨在街头).

Collocations

  • seemingly(仿佛)
  • hesitate(彷徨)
  • wander aimlessly(彷徨)
  • indecisive(彷徨不定)
  • at a loss(彷徨失措)

Idioms

  • To hesitate and not know where to go(彷徨歧途)
  • To pace back and forth in hesitation(彷徨四顾)
  • To be at a complete loss(彷徨无措)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted wandering or pacing back and forth, conveying hesitation and uncertainty.
  • Often used in classical Chinese literature to describe a state of mental confusion or indecision.
  • The radical 彳 suggests movement or walking, relating to the character's core meaning of wandering.

FAQ