Fanqie is a system that indicates the pronunciation of a Chinese character by using two other characters where the first shares the same onset and tone register, and the second shares the rime and tone type.

Example: 陟弓切 is a fanqie spelling of 中, incorporating the initial and tone register of 陟, and the rime and tone type of 弓. The case of 中 happens to be true in modern Standard Cantonese, but other characters may not be.