方 means “direction, way”

ほう · hou

Also: person, alternative

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

かた

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ホウ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 2 · 4 strokes

The story

Originally a plow blade pointing the way across a field. 方 splits Japanese space into directions and people into polite "sides": どちらの方 can ask which way, or which honored person.

Used in 方向 (houkou, direction), 読み方 (yomikata, way of reading), and 夕方 (yuugata, evening)

Words with 方

• 方針 (ほうしん, houshin): policy / direction

More from Compass & Position

• 外 outside
• 下 below
• 以 from
• 区 ward
• 北 north
• 所 place
• 西 west
• 南 south
• 図 map
• 右 right
• 左 left
• 中 inside

Learn 方 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.