Japanese Conversation · Level 87
60 words
Japanese word
四方
Pronunciation
Romajishihō
Meaning
- nounall directions
Example
山頂から四方を見渡します。san chō ka ra shi hō o mi wata shi ma su
I look out in all directions from the mountaintop.
More examples
窓を開けると、四方から涼しい風が入ってきます。mado o a ke ru to shi hō ka ra suzu shi i kaze ga hai tte ki ma su
When I open the windows, a cool breeze comes in from all directions.
Core concept
四方 (shihō) presents a place as surrounded by four directional points, so it can refer to the whole area around it.
Common phrases
四方を見渡すshi hō o mi wata su
look out in all directions
四方に広がるshi hō ni hiro ga ru
spread in all directions
四方から集まるshi hō ka ra atsu ma ru
gather from all directions
Similar words
周囲shūi: The space extending around all sides of a person, place, or object.
Definition in Japanese
東西南北に当たる四つの方向。転じて、その方向に囲まれた周囲。tō zai nan boku ni a ta ru yon tsu no hō kō ten ji te so no hō kō ni kako ma re ta shū i
Word origin
四方 (shihō) combines 四 (shi, "four") with 方 (hō, "direction"), forming the Sino-Japanese term for the four cardinal directions.
Usage tips
- 四方 (shihō) has a more formal tone than everyday expressions for looking around, so it often appears in written descriptions of broad landscapes and distant views.
Other meanings
- the four cardinal directionsnoun