What four directions which are not described by 四处 are de...

What four directions which are not described by 四处 are described by 八方?

Learn Chinese

Nov 07 • 109 read

I have a hunch about the difference between 八方 and 四处.

四处 includes north, south, west and east. 八方 includes these four + up, down, forward, backward.

Three questions:

Is my assumption correct?
Do native speakers really differenciate between these two phrases or they use them interchangibly?
Is there a reason why 八 is connected with 方 and not with 处? Is there a difference in the sense of "direction" given by 方 and 处?

Answer

四处 (or 四方) = north, south, east and west

八方 = (north, south, east and west) + southeast, northeast, southwest and northwest

四方 and 四处 can be used interchangeably. There is also a third one: 四面.

Another word you might want to know:

十面 = ((north, south, east and west) + southeast, northeast, southwest and northwest) + up and down.

八处 doesn't seem to be a thing, but 八面 does exist.

(more)