How to say "side" in Japanese

• 側がわJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suffixThe default word for the side of something physical, and for the side you take in a dispute; it marks a position relative to something rather than a face or surface.
  こちら側がわでかんでもいいですか。↗

  Can I chew on this side?
• かたわらJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjective, adverbMeans the space beside or at the edge of something rather than one of its faces; as a rendering of 'side (of an object)' it is seldom the word you want — 'beside' is closer.
  メアリーは読書どくしょをしており、１匹ひきの猫ねこがかたわらで眠ねむっていた。↗

  Mary was reading, with a cat sleeping beside her.
• 方ほうJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounUse this when 'side' really means a direction or area — 'this side', 'the other side' — rather than the surface of an object; it locates something relative to a point of reference.
• サイドCommon
  nounThe English loanword, kept in borrowed expressions and in sporting or technical contexts; for the side of an everyday object, 側 is the usual choice.
  こうじはついていた。交通事故こうつうじこでたった車くるまのサイドをちょっとかすっただけだった。↗

  Kouji was lucky; his traffic accident left only a minor scratch on the side of his car.
• 側面そくめんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounRefers to a side face or surface of an object — its flank — and figuratively to a secondary aspect of a matter; use it when 'side' means a face rather than a position.
  鳥類ちょうるいの発声はっせいにおいて真しんに驚異的きょういてきな点てんは、鳴管めいかんの２つの側面そくめんが独立どくりつして動うごくことができるということである。↗

  The truly remarkable feature of sound production by birds is that the two sides of the syrinx can act independently.

Use 側 for the side of something or a side in a dispute, 方 for a side as a direction or area, 側面 for a side face or aspect, 「かたわら」 chiefly for 'beside', and 「サイド」 in borrowed expressions.

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

• 側がわside (of something, or taking someone's side)
• かたわらside
• 方ほうdirection
• サイドside
• 側面そくめんside
• 脇わきarmpit
• 横手よこてside
• ほとりside (esp. of a waterbody)
• 脇腹わきばらside (of the torso)
• 際きわedge
• 横っ腹よこっぱらside
• 横腹よこばらside
• 側方そくほうside
• 横合いよこあいside
• 辺上へんじょうside
• 根際ねき(one's) side
• 側腹そくふくflank
• 部面ぶめんphase
• 真横まよこ(right at the) side
• 辺へんside
• 横よこside (of a box, etc.)
• つまaccompaniment
• 陣地じんちside
• 袂たもとvicinity (esp. of a bridge)
• 横面よこつらside
• 横っ面よこっつらside
• 方かたside (e.g. "on my mother's side")
• 下もと(someone's) side
• 元もと(one's) side
• ところpoint
• 面めんaspect
• 片かたside
• 左右さゆう(serving at someone's) side