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What is the Kanji for 'Direction'? | 方

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Direction', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Direction' is 方.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Direction

    Reading

    kunyomiかた

    kata

    onyomiほう

    hou

    Parts

    Dot Ten thousand

    Example Word

    仕方無い: helpless. The Japanese adjective '仕方無い (しかたない)' means 'helpless' or 'it can't be helped'. It is used to express resignation or acceptance of a situation that cannot be changed or controlled. This word often conveys a sense of inevitability or lack of alternatives. For example: It can't be helped, we have to wait「仕方ない、待つしかない」(しかたない、まつしかない). There's nothing we can do about it「仕方ないことだ」(しかたないことだ). It is commonly used in casual conversations to express frustration or acceptance of an unavoidable outcome.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    4

    JLPT

    N4

    Grade

    2

    Frequency

    22

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    radical

    Meaning

    Dot

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ten thousand

As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of 14 other kanji:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Travel

    kanji

    Meaning

    Family

    kanji

    Meaning

    Alms, Carry out

    kanji

    Meaning

    Visit

    kanji

    Meaning

    Release

    kanji

    Meaning

    Prevent, Defend

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hinder, Disturb

    kanji

    Meaning

    Boy, Sonny

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tassel, Chamber

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fat, Obese

    kanji

    Meaning

    Flag

    kanji

    Meaning

    Gyrate, Rotation

    kanji

    Meaning

    Spin, Spinning

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fragrant, Perfume

Words Using

This kanji is used in 37 words:

    word

    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

    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

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 20 kanji contain the part 丶 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Insect

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dog

    kanji

    Meaning

    Evening

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ball, Jewel

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rain

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thick, Fat

    kanji

    Meaning

    Round

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mother

    kanji

    Meaning

    Heart

    kanji

    Meaning

    Night

    kanji

    Meaning

    Master

    kanji

    Meaning

    Measurement

    kanji

    Meaning

    Good

    kanji

    Meaning

    State

    kanji

    Meaning

    Common

    kanji

    Meaning

    Eternity

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ice

    kanji

    Meaning

    Blade

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cinnabar, Rust colored

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rice bowl

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 方 mean?

方 means 'Direction'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Second Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N4 exam.

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