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N4

Kanji 方: meanings, readings, and example words.

3 min read

Kanji 方: direction, person, alternative

Key takeaways

Kanji 方: direction, person, alternative. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N4

Meaning

directionpersonalternative

On reading

ホウ

Kun reading

かた-かた-がた

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 方

direction, person, alternative

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

This character visualizes a compass needle pointing in a specific 'direction'. By imagining the top mark (亠) as the tip of the needle, you can easily associate it with the meanings 'direction' and the 'method' to reach a destination.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

ホウ
  • 他方たほう

    the other side / on the other hand

  • 平方へいほう

    square (unit, shape)

  • 方策ほうさく

    plan / strategy / policy

  • 方式ほうしき

    method / system / way

  • 正方形せいほうけい

    square (shape)

  • 長方形ちょうほうけい

    rectangle / oblong shape

  • 方角ほうがく

    direction / compass point

  • 方言ほうげん

    dialect / regional speech

Kun reading

かた
  • 大方おおかた

    majority / mostly / almost all

  • 地方じかた

    area / region / district

  • 立方たちかた

    traditional geisha dance

  • 見方みかた

    viewpoint / way of seeing

  • 目方めかた

    weight / mass

  • 明け方あけがた

    dawn / daybreak

  • 方々かたがた

    persons / various people / here and there

  • 味方みかた

    friend / ally / supporter

Commonly used words

  • 他方
    たほう

    the other side / on the other hand

  • 平方
    へいほう

    square (unit, shape)

  • 方策
    ほうさく

    plan / strategy / policy

  • 方式
    ほうしき

    method / system / way

  • 正方形
    せいほうけい

    square (shape)

  • 長方形
    ちょうほうけい

    rectangle / oblong shape

  • 大方
    おおかた

    majority / mostly / almost all

  • 地方
    じかた

    area / region / district

  • 立方
    たちかた

    traditional geisha dance

  • 見方
    みかた

    viewpoint / way of seeing

  • 目方
    めかた

    weight / mass

  • 明け方
    あけがた

    dawn / daybreak

Example sentences

Example 1

あちこちで花が咲いている。

Translation

Flowers are blooming here and there.

Example 2

彼はあちこちを旅行している。

Translation

He is traveling here and there.

Example 3

あちらにコンビニがあります。

Translation

There is a convenience store over there.

Example 4

の山がとてもきれいです。

Translation

The mountains yonder are very beautiful.

Kanji 方: direction, person, alternative | Daily Nihongo