片方(かたほう)

かたほう
noun
one side, one of a pair
1. one of a pair
One item from a matched pair, such as one shoe, one glove, or one earring.
靴下(くつした)の片方(かたほう)がない。
One of my socks is missing.
片方(かたほう)の手(て)で荷物(にもつ)を持(も)つ。
I hold the luggage with one hand.
イヤリングの片方(かたほう)を落(お)としてしまった。
I dropped one of my earrings.
2. one side, one party
One side in a two-sided situation or relationship.
片方(かたほう)だけの話(はなし)を聞(き)いても判断(はんだん)できない。
You can't judge by hearing only one side of the story.
けんかでは片方(かたほう)だけが悪(わる)いとは限(かぎ)らない。
In a fight, it's not necessarily just one side that's at fault.
片方(かたほう)が賛成(さんせい)しても、もう片方(かたほう)が反対(はんたい)することもある。
Even if one side agrees, the other side may oppose.

片方(かたほう) combines 片(かた) (one of two) + 方(ほう) (direction/side).

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 片方(かたほう)の + noun (one of the pair of...)
  • 片方(かたほう)だけ (only one side)
  • 片方(かたほう)を失(な)くす (to lose one of a pair)

SIMILAR WORDS:

USAGE NOTES:

  • Often used for items that come in pairs: shoes, gloves, earrings, chopsticks
  • Can also describe one party in a relationship or dispute

Related Words

Antonym: 両方(りょうほう) (both)
Related: 一方(いっぽう) (one side)
general
Added 2026.1.11 20:12 · Revised 2026.5.24 1:16
03000/03044_katahou