How to say "direction" in Japanese

• 方かたJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounRead this way, the word is mainly 'way' in the sense of manner or method; for physical direction it is seldom the word you want — that sense is carried by the ほう reading of the same character.
• 方ほうJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe word for a direction or side treated as an area: asking which way to go, saying a place lies to the north, or distinguishing one side from another.
• 方向ほうこうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounDirection as a course or orientation rather than a region: the way one is moving or heading, a bearing to steer by, and figuratively the course a plan or discussion is taking.
  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?
• 向きむきJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)The direction in which something faces or is turned: the exposure of a room, the way a dial or antenna points. It is about facing, not about the direction one travels.
• 方面ほうめんJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)A broad area or district lying in a given direction: which part of the country a place is in, or the zone a train is bound for — a region, not a precise bearing.
  ２５号線ごうせん北きた方面ほうめんの入り口いりぐち付近ふきんにいます。↗

  I'm near the on ramp to 25 north.

Choose 方向 for direction as a course or orientation, 方（ほう） for pointing to a side or way, 「向き」 for the way something faces, 方面 for a broad area in a direction, and 方（かた） chiefly for 'way' as manner.

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

• 方かたdirection
• 方ほうdirection
• 方向ほうこうdirection
• 向きむきdirection
• 方面ほうめんdirection
• 演出えんしゅつdirection (of a play, film, etc.)
• 方角ほうがくdirection
• 指揮しきcommand
• 訓示くんじinstruction
• 針路しんろcourse
• 補導ほどうguidance
• 監督かんとくsupervision
• 指導しどうguidance
• ディレクションdirection
• 方向性ほうこうせいdirection
• 走向そうこうstrike
• 支配しはいdirection
• 矢印やじるし(romantic) interest (for a certain person)
• ベクトルdirection (e.g. of one's activities or interests)
• 見当けんとうdirection
• 行方ゆくえoutcome
• 采配さいはいorder
• 手てdirection