東西南北(とうざいなんぼく)

とうざいなんぼく
noun
the four cardinal directions; all directions
directiongeography
1. east, west, south, and north; the four cardinal directions
The four main compass directions considered as a set. Literally lists them in the Japanese order: east, west, south, north.
東西南北(とうざいなんぼく)を覚(おぼ)えましょう。
Let's learn the four cardinal directions.
コンパスで東西南北(とうざいなんぼく)を確認(かくにん)した。
I checked the cardinal directions with a compass.
日本語(にほんご)では方角(ほうがく)を東西南北(とうざいなんぼく)の順(じゅん)で言(い)うのが一般的(いっぱんてき)だ。
In Japanese, it is common to list the directions in the order east, west, south, north.
2. all directions; everywhere
Used figuratively to mean 'in every direction' or 'all over the place.'
東西南北(とうざいなんぼく)どこへでも行(い)ける。
You can go anywhere in any direction.
東西南北(とうざいなんぼく)から人(ひと)が集(あつ)まってきた。
People gathered from all directions.
彼(かれ)は東西南北(とうざいなんぼく)を旅(たび)して回(まわ)り、各地(かくち)の文化(ぶんか)を学(まな)んだ。
He traveled in all directions and learned about the cultures of various regions.

The order of directions in Japanese is 東(ひがし) (east), 西(にし) (west), 南(みなみ) (south), 北(きた) (north) — different from the English convention of north, south, east, west. This four-character compound uses the on'yomi readings.

Common collocations

  • 東西南北(とうざいなんぼく)の方角(ほうがく): the four cardinal directions
  • 東西南北(とうざいなんぼく)に広(ひろ)がる: to spread in all directions
  • 東西南北(とうざいなんぼく)がわからない: to not know which way is which

Similar words

  • 方角(ほうがく): direction, compass point — the general concept of direction
  • 四方(しほう): four directions, all sides — similar meaning but less specific to compass directions
  • 方位(ほうい): compass bearing — more technical, used with compasses and navigation

Related Words

Compare: 方角(ほうがく) (direction, compass point)
Compare: 四方(しほう) (four directions, all sides)
Compare: 方位(ほうい) (compass bearing)
general
Added 2026.4.5 12:35 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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