方
direction · person · alternative
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape spreading left and right. Direction, method.
Symbolism
Direction, method, region. Represents orientation and approach.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一方通行
いっぽうつうこう
one-way traffic; one-way (e.g. communication); one-sided
四方八方
しほうはっぽう
in all directions
八方美人
はっぽうびじん
everybody's friend; people pleaser; person who is affable to everybody
方向転換
ほうこうてんかん
change of course
品行方正
ひんこうほうせい
irreproachable conduct; good conduct; high morals
西方浄土
さいほうじょうど
Western Pure Land (Amitabha's Buddhist paradise)
賢良方正
けんりょうほうせい
wise and virtuous; good and able men
円鑿方枘
えんさくほうぜい
round peg in a square hole
四里四方
よりよほう
large area; four ri square (approx. 16 sq km); Edo
方底円蓋
ほうていえんがい
being a (total) mismatch; not fitting together; being ill-suited
嘘も方便
うそもほうべん
Even lies can be expedient; Sometimes a lie is justified for a good purpose
Poetry
わたの原 こぎ出でてみれば 久方の 雲ゐにまがふ 冲つ白波
Rowing out across the wide sea and looking back, I cannot tell the white waves offshore from the clouds.
ほととぎす 鳴きつる方を ながむれば ただありあけの 月ぞ残れる
I looked toward where the cuckoo had called, and there was nothing but the dawn moon, still hanging.
Anime & Manga
境界の彼方
Beyond the Boundary
A well-known work with 方 in its Japanese title.
治癒魔法の間違った使い方
The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
A well-known work with 方 in its Japanese title.
彼方のアストラ
ASTRA LOST IN SPACE
A well-known work with 方 in its Japanese title.
とある科学の一方通行【アクセラレータ】
A Certain Scientific Accelerator
A well-known work with 方 in its Japanese title.
劇場版 境界の彼方 I'LL BE HERE 未来篇
Beyond the Boundary -I'LL BE HERE-: Future
A well-known work with 方 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
松方正義
Name contains 方
Prince Matsukata Masayoshi was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1891 to 1892, and from 1896 to 1898.
Wikipedia土方歳三
Name contains 方
Hijikata Toshizō was a Japanese swordsman of the Bakumatsu period and Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi.
Wikipediaお市の方
Name contains 方
Oichi was a female historical figure in the late Sengoku period.
Wikipedia南方熊楠
Name contains 方
Minakata Kumagusu was a Japanese author, biologist, naturalist and ethnologist.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 方 mean in Japanese?
方 means direction, person, alternative.
How do you read 方?
On'yomi: ホウ (HOU). Kun'yomi: かた、-かた、-がた (kata, kata, gata).
How many strokes does 方 have?
方 has 4 strokes. Its radical is 方 (square).
Is 方 a good kanji for a tattoo?
方 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means direction, person, alternative. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:person