L34. Daily Japanese Kanji — Lesson 34: 東
Days 31-40
R-report
[Day 34] 東 - east
The character 東 originally evokes the sun rising near or behind a tree — a pictorial idea for the direction where the sun rises. In modern Japanese it refers to the direction "east," appears in place names (most famously 東京, Tōkyō), station signage, maps, and many compound words. Readings: On'yomi and Kun'yomi are used in different contexts (compounds vs. standalone/directional uses). Common compounds include 東京 (とうきょう / Tōkyō) and 東口 (ひがしぐち / higashi-guchi). Mnemonic tip: imagine the sun behind a tree at the horizon — that's the east where the sun appears.
Readings
On'yomi: **トウ（東）** (tō) Kun'yomi: **ひがし（東）** (higashi)
Related words
- 東（ひがし / higashi） — east. - その店は駅の**東**にあります。 (Sono mise wa eki no **higashi** ni arimasu. — The shop is east of the station.)
- 東京（とうきょう / Tōkyō） — Tokyo. - 来年、**東京**へ行きます。 (Rainen, **Tōkyō** e ikimasu. — I'm going to Tokyo next year.)
- 東口（ひがしぐち / higashi-guchi） — east exit (of a station). - 改札を出て、**東口**へ進んでください。 (Kaisatsu o dete, **higashi-guchi** e susunde kudasai. — After you exit the ticket gate, please head to the east exit.)
- 東側（ひがしがわ / higashi-gawa） — east side. - 公園は川の**東側**にあります。 (Kōen wa kawa no **higashi-gawa** ni arimasu. — The park is on the east side of the river.)
- 東洋（とうよう / Tōyō） — the Orient; East Asia (formal / historical). - 歴史の授業で**東洋**の文化を学んだ。 (Rekishi no jugyō de **Tōyō** no bunka o mananda. — In history class I learned about Eastern cultures.)