Japanese kanji 方: direction

The idea

Kanji can have Japanese-origin readings (kun) and readings borrowed through Chinese (on). Compare 方向 (ほうこう) and 方 (かた). 方 has 4 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram for their order.

Examples

• この方かたは先生せんせいです。This person is a teacher.
• あの方かたはどなたですか。Who is that person?
• 駅えきの方向ほうこうへ歩あるきます。I walk in the direction of the station.
• 風かぜはその方向ほうこうから吹ふいています。The wind is blowing from that direction.
• いい方法ほうほうを考かんがえましょう。Let’s think of a good method.
• この方法ほうほうは簡単かんたんです。This method is simple.

Watch out

方向 (ほうこう) means direction; 方 (かた) means person (polite). Learn the reading with the whole word. 方 (かた) is a polite word for a person. After a verb stem, as in 使い方, it means a way of doing something. 方 has a dot at the top; 万 does not.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 方向 in hiragana.

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   ほうこう

   方向 is read ほうこう and means direction. Remember the reading of the whole word.

2. Write in hiragana the reading of 方 when it refers politely to a person.

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   かた

   方 is read かた and means person (polite). Remember the reading of the whole word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿法（ほうほう）.

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   方

   方 completes 方法, read ほうほう; the completed word means method; way.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 方 from memory, and read 方向 and 方 aloud. Check their readings and meanings.