How to say "bearing" in Japanese

• 方向ほうこうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'bearing' in its most general sense: direction — which way something points, faces, or moves. When English 'bearing' simply means 'direction', this common word is the natural choice.
  チーズの棚たなはどちらの方向ほうこうにありますか。↗

  Which way is the cheese shelf?
• 負荷ふかCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbHere 'bearing' is the act of bearing or shouldering a load or burden — not a direction and not a machine part. A formal or literary term, not the word for the other senses.
• ベアリングCommon
  nounThe machine part: a bearing in the mechanical sense — the component that reduces friction between rotating parts. This katakana loanword is the common word for the part itself.
• 方位ほういCommon
  nounThe navigational sense: a bearing as a compass direction — a heading or a point of the compass. Use this when 'bearing' means a direction fixed by the compass, as in navigation.
• 軸受けじくうけCommon
  nounAlso the machine part, but named for its function of bearing a shaft or axle; 'plummer block' is among its meanings. Use it when the bearing's role in supporting a shaft is what matters.

Use 方向 for direction in general, 方位 for compass or navigational bearings, 「ベアリング」 or 「軸受け」 for the machine part, and 負荷 for the formal sense of bearing a load or burden.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 方向ほうこうdirection
• 負荷ふかburdening
• ベアリングbearing
• 方位ほういbearing
• 軸受けじくうけbearing
• 立ち居振る舞いたちいふるまいmovements
• 我慢がまんendurance
• 態度たいどattitude
• 仕草しぐさgesture
• 物腰ものごしmanner
• 挙止きょしbearing
• 儀容ぎようbearing
• 捧持ほうじbearing
• 生りなりbearing (fruit)
• 立ち振る舞いたちふるまいmovements
• 担いにないcarrying (on one's shoulder)
• 支承ししょうsupport
• 起居動作ききょどうさbehavior
• 挙措進退きょそしんたいbehavior
• 起居挙動ききょきょどうbehavior
• 身のこなしみのこなしcarriage
• 素振りそぶりbehavior
• 負担ふたんbearing (a cost, responsibility, etc.)
• 動作どうさbearing
• 方角ほうがくpoint of the compass
• 口当たりくちあたりmanner
• 外面がいめんmanner (with others)