How to say 'Direction' or 'Side' in Japanese | 方

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

The Japanese word for Direction or Side is 'Hou', written as 方 in Japanese.'Direction' or 'Side' in hiragana is ほう.

word

方

Meaning

Direction, Side

Reading

ほう

hou

Kanji

方Direction

Explanation

The Japanese noun '方 (ほう)' can mean 'direction' or 'side'. It is often used to indicate a physical direction, a choice between options, or a comparison between two things. For example: that direction is dangerous「あの方は危ない」(あのほうはあぶない). I prefer this side「こちらの方が好きです」(こちらのほうがすきです). When used in comparisons, it often follows the structure 'Xの方がYより...' to mean 'X is more... than Y'. For example: apples are more delicious than oranges「りんごの方がオレンジより美味しい」(りんごのほうがオレンジよりおいしい). Note that '方' can also be used to refer to a person in a polite way, but this is a different word with the same kanji and reading, so it is not included here.

Part Of Speech

noun

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

Composition

kanji

Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 方

This word contains 1 kanji character:

kanji

方

Meaning

Direction

Words Related to 方 Through the Kanji 方

These 36 Words contain the Kanji 方 as well.

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

方向

Meaning

Direction

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

Learn the Word 方

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Hou' (方) mean?

'Hou' means 'Direction' or 'Side' .

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