Japanese word

北方

Pronunciation

Romajihoppō

Meaning

  • nounnorth

Example

船は北方へ進みます。fune wa hop pō e susu mi ma su

The ship heads north.

Illustration for 北方 (north)

More examples

この国の北方には大きな湖があります。ko no kuni no hop pō ni wa ō ki na mizuumi ga a ri ma su

There is a large lake to the north of this country.

Core concept

It presents north not only as a compass direction but also as a geographic region on that side.

Common phrases

  • 北方からhop pō ka ra

    from the north

Similar words

北kita: A cardinal direction or the area located in that direction.
北部hokubu: The northern part of a country, region, or other defined area.
北側kitagawa: The side or area positioned toward the north.

Definition in Japanese

北の方角。また、北に位置する地域。kita no hō gaku ma ta kita ni i chi su ru chi iki

Word origin

北方 (hoppō) is formed from the Sino-Japanese readings 北 (hoku, "north") and 方 (hō, "direction"), whose combination denotes the northern side or area.

Usage tips

  • Formal geographic writing often uses 北方 (hoppō) for a broad northern region, while everyday speech more often uses 北 (kita) for a simple direction.

Opposites

Word lists with this word