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What is the Kanji for 'North'? | 北

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

The Japanese Kanji for 'North' is 北.

    kanji

    北

    Meaning

    North

    Reading

    kunyomiきた

    kita

    onyomiほく

    hoku

    Parts

    冫Ice (水)丨Stick 匕Spoon

    Example Word

    北: north. The Japanese noun '北 (きた)' means 'north'. It refers to the cardinal direction and is commonly used in geographical contexts, such as indicating a location or giving directions. For example: The wind is coming from the north「風が北から吹いている」(かぜがきたからふいている). Hokkaido is in the north of Japan「北海道は日本の北にある」(ほっかいどうはにほんのきたにある). The word can also be used metaphorically to describe something as being in a northern position relative to something else.

    Radical

    匕

    Stroke Count

    5

    JLPT

    N5

    Grade

    2

    Frequency

    434

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji 北

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 3 parts:

    radical

    冫

    Meaning

    Ice

    radical

    丨

    Meaning

    Stick

    radical

    匕

    Meaning

    Spoon

北 As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of one other kanji:

    kanji

    背

    Meaning

    Back, Height

Words Using 北

This kanji is used in 8 words:

    word

    北部

    Meaning

    North

    word

    北朝鮮

    Meaning

    North Korea

    word

    北極

    Meaning

    North Pole

    word

    南北

    Meaning

    North south

    word

    北西

    Meaning

    Northwest

    word

    北東

    Meaning

    Northeast

    word

    北風

    Meaning

    North wind

    word

    北

    Meaning

    North

Kanji Related to 北 Through the Part 冫

These 13 kanji contain the part 冫 as well.

    kanji

    准

    Meaning

    Approve, Semi

    kanji

    凄

    Meaning

    Nifty

    kanji

    凍

    Meaning

    Freeze, Frozen

    kanji

    弱

    Meaning

    Weak

    kanji

    冷

    Meaning

    Cold

    kanji

    次

    Meaning

    Next

    kanji

    冶

    Meaning

    Melting, Smelting

    kanji

    寒

    Meaning

    Cold

    kanji

    羽

    Meaning

    Feather

    kanji

    凝

    Meaning

    Congeal

    kanji

    塁

    Meaning

    Base, Small fort

    kanji

    冬

    Meaning

    Winter

    kanji

    楽

    Meaning

    Music, Pleasure

Kanji Related to 北 Through the Part 丨

These 25 kanji contain the part 丨 as well.

    kanji

    旧

    Meaning

    Old, Past

    kanji

    馬

    Meaning

    Horse

    kanji

    山

    Meaning

    Mountain

    kanji

    申

    Meaning

    Report

    kanji

    中

    Meaning

    Center

    kanji

    介

    Meaning

    Mediate, Jammed in

    kanji

    川

    Meaning

    River

    kanji

    長

    Meaning

    Long, Leader

    kanji

    面

    Meaning

    Face, Surface

    kanji

    用

    Meaning

    Use

    kanji

    止

    Meaning

    Stop

    kanji

    皿

    Meaning

    Plate

    kanji

    竹

    Meaning

    Bamboo

    kanji

    門

    Meaning

    Gate

    kanji

    十

    Meaning

    Ten

    kanji

    弟

    Meaning

    Younger brother

    kanji

    弔

    Meaning

    Mourn, Condolence

    kanji

    声

    Meaning

    Voice

    kanji

    串

    Meaning

    Spit, Skewer

    kanji

    作

    Meaning

    Make

    kanji

    候

    Meaning

    Climate

    kanji

    耳

    Meaning

    Ear

    kanji

    曲

    Meaning

    Music, Bend

    kanji

    鹿

    Meaning

    Deer

    kanji

    引

    Meaning

    Pull

Kanji Related to 北 Through the Part 匕

These 9 kanji contain the part 匕 as well.

    kanji

    能

    Meaning

    Ability

    kanji

    旨

    Meaning

    Purport, Delicious

    kanji

    壱

    Meaning

    One

    kanji

    匂

    Meaning

    Fragrance, Scent

    kanji

    死

    Meaning

    Death

    kanji

    化

    Meaning

    Change

    kanji

    老

    Meaning

    Old, Aged

    kanji

    尼

    Meaning

    Nun, Priestess

    kanji

    頃

    Meaning

    Approximate

Learn the Kanji 北

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 北 mean?

北 means 'North'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Second Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N5 exam.

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