北方|ほっぽうhoppou[0]heiban (flat)

1. no-adjectivethe north; northward; northern direction
   北海道ほっかいどうは仙台せんだいの北方ほっぽうにある。↗

   Hokkaido is to the north of Sendai.
2. nounnorthern part (e.g. of a country); northern district

• Synonym北きたNeutralThe plainest, most colloquial word for north; 「北方」 leans toward written prose, as in 「北方領土」.
• SynonymノースNeutralA loanword for north, used mostly in brand names; in daily speech people say 「北」.
• Related北部ほくぶNeutralThe northern part inside a given area, as in 「県北部」; 「北方」 refers to the northern direction or to northern regions.
• Related真北まきたNeutralPoints to geographic due north; 「北方」 is a general term for the north and northern regions.
• Related北の方きたのかたWrittenA written word for the north; in olden times it also meant the legal wife of a nobleman. 「北方」 leans toward written prose.
• Antonym南方なんぽうNeutralSits opposite 「北方」 on the compass: it refers to the south, the southern side.

Use 「北方」 in written or formal prose for the north or a northern region, as in 「北方領土」; in everyday speech say 「北」. For the northern part of a specific area use 「北部」, for due north 「真北」; the antonym is 「南方」.

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

1. 北きたの方角ほうがく。