Japanese word

片側

Pronunciation

Romajikatagawa

Meaning

  • nounone side

Example

道の片側を歩きます。michi no kata gawa o aru ki ma su

I walk on one side of the road.

Illustration for 片側 (one side)

More examples

工事のため、道路の片側が通行止めです。kō ji no ta me dō ro no kata gawa ga tsū kō to me de su

Because of construction, one side of the road is closed to traffic.

Core concept

Marks one side of a two-sided object, place, or arrangement as distinct from the other side.

Common phrases

  • 片側交互通行kata gawa kō go tsū kō

    alternating one-way traffic

  • 片側通行kata gawa tsū kō

    one-way traffic

  • 道路の片側dō ro no kata gawa

    one side of the road

Similar words

片方katahō: One member of a pair or one of two possible choices.
一方ippō: One of two sides, directions, or parties in a situation.
片面katamen: One of the two surfaces of a flat object.

Definition in Japanese

対になっている二つの側のうち、一方の側。tai ni na tte i ru futa tsu no gawa no u chi ip pō no gawa

Word origin

片側 (katagawa) is formed from 片 (kata, "one of a pair") and 側 (gawa, "side"), combining the ideas of one and side.

Usage tips

  • In directions about streets or paths, 片側 (katagawa) identifies a side relative to the road as a whole rather than naming a fixed left or right direction.

Opposites

Word lists with this word