北部|ほくぶhokubu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. no-adjectivenorthern part; the north (of a region)
   北海道ほっかいどうは日本にっぽんの北部ほくぶにあります。↗

   Hokkaido is in the northern part of Japan.

• Synonym北きたNeutralThe basic direction word for north, as in 「北へ向かう」; it covers a broad range and is not tied to the northern part of a specific region.
• Synonym北部地方NeutralWritten prose for a northern area; it is used only for regions, while 「北部」 can also refer to the north side of a building or the like.
• Related北国きたぐにNeutralWritten prose for a northern land or country, as in 「北国の春」; it carries a lyrical feel, while 「北部」 is an objective regional term.
• Related北きたNeutralThe basic direction word for north, as in 「北へ向かう」; it covers a broad range and is not tied to the northern part of a specific region.
• Related北方ほっぽうNeutralWritten prose for the north, as in 「北方領土」; it leans toward direction or geography, while 「北部」 names a region's northern part.
• Antonym南部なんぶNeutralThe southern part of a region; it sits opposite 「北部」 in a region's north–south layout.

Use 「北部」 for the northern part of a region, as in 「関東北部」 or 「北部九州」. For direction, say 「北」; for a lyrical northern land, 「北国」; the opposite is 「南部」.

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

1. 北きたの方ほうの部分ぶぶん。