L37. Daily Japanese Kanji — [Day 37] 北 - north
Days 31-40
R-report
[Day 37] 北 - north
The character 北 means “north.” In early forms it likely showed two people back‑to‑back, which later came to suggest the idea of the back/upper direction — now used for compass directions, place names, and weather terms (e.g., north wind). You’ll meet 北 in station exits, regional names like Hokkaidō, and directional phrases. Readings: On'yomi and Kun'yomi are both used: On'yomi is common inside compounds (e.g., 北東, 北海道) while the Kun'yomi appears in native directional uses (e.g., 北へ, 北口). Mnemonic tip: imagine two people standing back‑to‑back — one faces north; that helps link the shape to “north.”
Readings
On'yomi: **ホク (北)** (hoku) Kun'yomi: **きた (北)** (kita)
Related words
- 北（きた / kita） — north. - 町の**北**に公園があります。 (Machi no **kita** ni kōen ga arimasu.) (There is a park to the north of the town.)
- 北口（きたぐち / kita‑guchi） — north exit. - 駅の**北口**で待ち合わせしましょう。 (Eki no **kita‑guchi** de machiawase shimashō.) (Let's meet at the station's north exit.)
- 北海道（ほっかいどう / Hokkaidō） — Hokkaidō (northernmost main island / prefecture). - 冬の**北海道**は雪が多いです。 (Fuyu no **Hokkaidō** wa yuki ga ōi desu.) (Hokkaidō has a lot of snow in winter.)
- 北東（ほくとう / hokutō） — northeast. - 風は**北東**から吹いています。 (Kaze wa **hokutō** kara fuiteimasu.) (The wind is blowing from the northeast.)
- 北風（きたかぜ / kitakaze） — north wind. - 今朝は強い**北風**が吹きました。 (Kesa wa tsuyoi **kitakaze** ga fukimashita.) (A strong north wind blew this morning.)