東(ひがし)

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

Four directions

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

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

Pronunciation

• 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.