Japanese Conversation · Level 3
86 words
Japanese word
北
Pronunciation
Romajikita
Meaning
- nounnorth
Example
北へ行きます。kita e i ki ma su
I go north.
More examples
学校は町の北にあります。gak kō wa machi no kita ni a ri ma su
The school is north of the town.
地図では北が上になっています。chi zu de wa kita ga ue ni na tte i ma su
On a map, north is at the top.
Core concept
It marks the northern direction as a reference point for where something is or where something is headed.
Common phrases
北に行くkita ni i ku
go north
北へ行くkita e i ku
go north
北から来るkita ka ra ku ru
come from the north
Similar words
北側kitagawa: The northern side of a place or object.
Definition in Japanese
基準となる方位の一つで、南の反対側に位置する方向。ki jun to na ru hō i no hito tsu de minami no han tai gawa ni i chi su ru hō kō
Word origin
北 (kita, "north") is a native Japanese reading, and the character 北 is of Chinese origin; the Japanese word is not a modern compound of separate words.
Usage tips
- On Japanese maps and signs, 北 (kita) marks the northern direction and helps people describe locations and routes.
Opposites
- 南minamisouthnoun