(ひがし)

ひがし
noun
east
1. east
The direction where the sun rises.
(ひがし)()く。
To go east.
(ひがし)(そら)(あか)るい。
The eastern sky is bright.
太陽(たいよう)(ひがし)から(のぼ)る。
The sun rises in the east.
学校(がっこう)(えき)(ひがし)にあります。
The school is to the east of the station.
(ひがし)から(つよ)(かぜ)()いているので、(まど)()めてください。
A strong wind is blowing from the east, so please close the window.

(ひがし) means east, the direction where the sun rises.

FOUR DIRECTIONS:

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

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 東口(ひがしぐち): east exit (station)
  • 東側(ひがしがわ): east side
  • 東京(とうきょう): Tokyo (とう reading)
  • 関東(かんとう): Kanto region
  • 東洋(とうよう): the East, Orient
  • 東北(とうほく): Tohoku region; northeast

READINGS:

  • ひがし: kun'yomi (standalone, everyday use)
  • とう: on'yomi (in compounds)
  • あずま: archaic/literary reading meaning "the East" (eastern Japan)

USAGE:
In station announcements, 東口(ひがしぐち) (east exit) and 西口(にしぐち) (west exit) are common terms.