北
north
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of two people back to back. Direction facing away from sun.
Symbolism
North, cold, defeat. Represents winter and water in Five Elements.
Words & Expressions
Words written with 北
Four-Character Compounds
東西南北
とうざいなんぼく
east, west, south and north
南征北伐
なんせいほくばつ
attacking in all directions
南船北馬
なんせんほくば
constant travelling; constant traveling; being on the move
北斗七星
ほくとしちせい
the Big Dipper (asterism); the Plough; the Plow
泰山北斗
たいざんほくと
great authority; eminent person; luminary
Proverbs & Idioms
北風と太陽
きたかぜとたいよう
The north wind and the sun
Gentleness is more effective than force
Anime & Manga
北斗の拳
Fist of the North Star
A well-known work with 北 in its Japanese title.
北北西に曇と往け
Go with the Clouds, North-by-Northwest
A well-known work with 北 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
葛飾北斎
Name contains 北
Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist of the Edo period, active as a painter and printmaker.
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Name contains 北
Ise Sōzui , also known as Hōjō Sōun , was a Japanese daimyo and the first head of the Later Hōjō clan, one of the major powers in Japan's Sengoku…
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Name contains 北
Kitazawa Yasuji , known by his pen name Kitazawa Rakuten , was a Japanese manga and nihonga artist, who was the first professional cartoonist in…
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Name contains 北
Kitabatake Chikafusa was a Japanese court noble and writer of the 14th century who supported the Southern Court in the Nanboku-cho period, serving as…
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Similar Kanji
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 北 mean in Japanese?
北 means north.
How do you read 北?
On'yomi: ホク (HOKU). Kun'yomi: きた (kita).
How many strokes does 北 have?
北 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 匕 (spoon).
Is 北 a good kanji for a tattoo?
北 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means north. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:north