北(きた)

きた

noun

north

1. north

The direction opposite to south, toward the Arctic in the Northern Hemisphere.

北(きた)は寒(さむ)い。

The north is cold.

北(きた)へ行(い)きます。

I'm going north.

北海道(ほっかいどう)は日本(にほん)の北(きた)にあります。

Hokkaido is in the north of Japan.

駅(えき)の北口(きたぐち)で待(ま)っています。

I'll be waiting at the north exit of the station.

この道(みち)を北(きた)に歩(ある)くと、大(おお)きい公園(こうえん)があります。

If you walk north on this road, there's a big park.

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

The four directions

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)

Usage with particles

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.

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:55 · Revised 2026.9.2 11:55

00500/00644_kita