How to say 'Direction' in Japanese | 方向

Wondering how to say 'Direction' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Direction is 'Houkou', written as 方向 in Japanese.'Direction' in hiragana is ほうこう.

word

方向

Meaning

Direction

Reading

ほうこう

houkou

Kanji

方Direction 向Facing, Yonder

Explanation

The Japanese noun '方向 (ほうこう)' means 'direction'. It refers to the course or path along which something moves, points, or lies. This word is commonly used to describe physical directions, such as the direction of travel, as well as metaphorical directions, such as the direction of one's life or efforts. For example: Which direction is the station?「駅はどの方向ですか？」(えきはどのほうこうですか？). He changed the direction of his career「彼はキャリアの方向を変えた」(かれはキャリアのほうこうをかえた). The word can also be used in compound nouns, such as '方向音痴 (ほうこうおんち)' which means 'someone who is bad with directions'.

Part Of Speech

noun

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

896

Composition

kanji

Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 方向

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

kanji

方

Meaning

Direction

kanji

向

Meaning

Facing, Yonder

Words Related to 方向 Through the Kanji 方

These 36 Words contain the Kanji 方 as well.

word

方

Meaning

Direction, Side

word

貴方

Meaning

You

word

方法

Meaning

Method

word

何方

Meaning

Where, Which

word

一方

Meaning

Side, On the other hand

word

地方

Meaning

Region

word

言い方

Meaning

Way of speaking

word

読み方

Meaning

Reading

word

書き方

Meaning

Way of writing

word

仕方

Meaning

Way

word

方式

Meaning

Method

word

方針

Meaning

Policy

word

明け方

Meaning

Dawn

word

両方

Meaning

Both

word

生き方

Meaning

Lifestyle

word

仕方無い

Meaning

Helpless

word

夕方

Meaning

Evening

word

彼方

Meaning

Yonder

word

方面

Meaning

Direction, Field

word

方々

Meaning

People

word

正方形

Meaning

Square

word

他方

Meaning

Other, Another

word

味方

Meaning

Ally

word

前方

Meaning

Front

word

双方

Meaning

Both

word

行方

Meaning

Whereabouts

word

方言

Meaning

Dialect

word

やり方

Meaning

Method

word

目方

Meaning

Weight

word

長方形

Meaning

Rectangle

word

方角

Meaning

Direction

word

処方

Meaning

Prescription

word

平方

Meaning

Square

word

片方

Meaning

One, Side

word

四方

Meaning

Directions

word

後方

Meaning

Rear, Back

Words Related to 方向 Through the Kanji 向

These 19 Words contain the Kanji 向 as well.

word

向かう

Meaning

Head, Face

word

向ける

Meaning

Direct

word

傾向

Meaning

Tendency, Trend

word

向こう

Meaning

Other side, Beyond

word

向こう側

Meaning

Other side

word

向く

Meaning

Face

word

向上

Meaning

Improvement

word

一向に

Meaning

Not at all

word

後ろ向き

Meaning

Backward

word

向け

Meaning

Targeted

word

志向

Meaning

Orientation

word

動向

Meaning

Trend

word

一向

Meaning

Not at all

word

振り向く

Meaning

Turn

word

向き

Meaning

Direction

word

向かい

Meaning

Opposite

word

前向き

Meaning

Positive

word

意向

Meaning

Intention

word

向き合う

Meaning

Face

Learn the Word 方向

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What does 'Houkou' (方向) mean?

'Houkou' means 'Direction' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.