西方|せいほうseihou[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounwestern direction
   その島しまは日本にっぽんの西方せいほうにある。↗

   The island lies to the west of Japan.
2. noun, BuddhismWestern Pure Land (Amitabha's Buddhist paradise)
3. noun, martial artswestern fighter in a match (e.g. sumo)

• Synonym西にしNeutralThe everyday word for west and the most common one; 「西方」 is more at home in written prose and also covers the Buddhist Western Pure Land and the west side in sumo.
• Related西にしNeutralThe everyday word for west and the most common one; 「西方」 is more at home in written prose and also covers the Buddhist Western Pure Land and the west side in sumo.
• Related真西まにしNeutralDue west: exactly west, with the emphasis on precise direction.
• Relatedま西NeutralAn alternative spelling of 「真西」 with the same meaning; rarely used.
• Antonym東方とうほうWrittenThe east, the counterpart of 「西方」; also the east side in sumo. A word of written/formal prose.

In written prose, and for the Buddhist Western Pure Land or the west camp in sumo, use 「西方」, as in 「西方浄土」; for everyday direction say 「西」, and due west is 「真西」; the counterpart is 「東方」.

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

1. 西にしの方角ほうがく。