方|かたkata[2]odaka (tail-high)

1. noundirection; wayalso ほう
2. nounperson; lady; gentleman
   グリーン夫人ふじんは、私の子供こどもたちが歌うたを習ならっている方かたですが、今度こんどの日曜にちように独唱どくしょう会かいを開ひらく予定よていです。↗

   Mrs. Green, from whom my children have lessons in singing, is to have a recital next Sunday.
3. noun, noun (suffix)method of; manner of; way of
   その少年しょうねんはカーブの投げ方なげかたを知しっている。↗

   The boy knows how to throw a curve.
4. noun (suffix)care of ...
5. noun (suffix)person in charge of ...also がた
6. noun (suffix)side (e.g. "on my mother's side")also がた

• Synonym向きむきNeutralThe direction something faces, as in 「南向きの部屋」; also suitability for a group, as in 「子ども向き」. The direction sense of 「かた」 now sounds old-fashioned.
• Synonym方位ほういWrittenA written term for direction reckoned from the compass points east, west, south and north, as in 「方位磁針」; more technical and objective than 「かた」.
• Related方面ほうめんNeutralAn area lying in a certain direction or a field of study or interest, as in 「大阪方面」 or 「経済方面」; it carries a sense of range, while 「かた」 for direction is old-style.
• Related針路しんろWrittenA written term for the course a ship or aircraft travels; figuratively, a direction to take in action, as in 「針路を定める」. Narrower in scope than 「かた」.

Today 「かた」 mainly serves as an honorific for people and for ways of doing things; for direction say 「向き」 or 「方面」, for compass bearings 「方位」, and for a ship's or plane's course 「針路」.

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

1. （かた）むき。側がわ。
2. （かた）みち、てだて。
3. （かた）人ひとを指し示さししめす場合ばあいの尊敬そんけい表現ひょうげん。
4. （ホウ、古いにしえ）人ひとを指し示さししめす表現ひょうげん。
5. 人ひとを丁寧ていねいに表現ひょうげんする言葉ことば
6. 住所じゅうしょなどで、同居どうきょしていることを示しめす言葉ことば