北(きた)

北(きた) is one of the four cardinal directions in Japanese.

Related words

• 東(ひがし): east
• 西(にし): west
• 南(みなみ): south
• 北(きた): north

Compounds

• 北口(きたぐち): north exit (at stations)
• 北側(きたがわ): north side
• 北風(きたかぜ): north wind
• 北海道(ほっかいどう): Hokkaido ("northern sea road")
• 北極(ほっきょく): North Pole
• 東北(とうほく): Tohoku (northeast Japan)

Common patterns

• 北(きた)へ行(い)く: to go north (direction)
• 北(きた)に住(す)む: to live in the north (location)
• 北(きた)から来(く)る: to come from the north (origin)

Cultural note

Station exits in Japan are often labeled by cardinal direction (北口(きたぐち), 南口(みなみぐち), etc.). This is essential for navigating and giving directions.

Watch out

In compounds 北(きた) is often read ほく: 北東(ほくとう) (northeast), 北西(ほくせい) (northwest), 北極(ほっきょく) (North Pole). Compass points put north and south first, as in English (北東(ほくとう)), but the region name 東北(とうほく) reverses the order.