東北(とうほく)

とうほく
noun
Tohoku region; northeast
geographycultureproper-nounplace-name
1. Tohoku region (northeast Japan); northeast direction
The northeastern region of Honshu, comprising the six prefectures of Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima. Also used for the northeast compass direction in general.
東北(とうほく)は雪(ゆき)が多(おお)い。
It snows a lot in the Tohoku region.
東北(とうほく)新幹線(しんかんせん)で仙台(せんだい)まで行(い)った。
I went to Sendai on the Tohoku Shinkansen.
東北(とうほく)地方(ちほう)には温泉(おんせん)や自然(しぜん)が豊(ゆた)かな場所(ばしょ)が多(おお)い。
The Tohoku region has many places rich in hot springs and nature.

Compound of 東(ひがし) (east) + 北(きた) (north), pronounced とうほく. Refers primarily to the Tohoku region of northeastern Honshu, but can also indicate the northeast compass direction in technical contexts.

Common collocations

  • 東北(とうほく)地方(ちほう): Tohoku region
  • 東北(とうほく)新幹線(しんかんせん): Tohoku Shinkansen
  • 東北(とうほく)弁(べん): Tohoku dialect
  • 東北(とうほく)出身(しゅっしん): from Tohoku

Cultural note

The region was severely affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. Known for its harsh winters, distinctive dialects, and traditional foods such as 牛(ぎゅう)タン (Sendai beef tongue) and きりたんぽ.

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 関東(かんとう) (Kanto region)
Compare: 関西(かんさい) (Kansai region)
Compare: 北海道(ほっかいどう) (Hokkaido)
Related: 東南(とうなん) (southeast)
Related: 青森県(あおもりけん) (Aomori Prefecture)
general
Added 2026.5.14 10:41 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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