北

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 北海道は日本の北にあります。▶ —
   Hokkaido is in the north of Japan.
2. 北風が強いです。▶ —
   The north wind is strong.

Collocations

Mnemonic

北 kita — Japan stretches north-south, so cardinal direction nouns stay alive in daily speech. 北海道 (Hokkaidou) literally "North-Sea-Road". Train stations typically have 北口 (north exit), 南口, 東口, 西口 — used as meeting-point shorthand. Onyomi ほく (hoku): 北極 (hokkyoku, North Pole), 北部 (hokubu, north region). Compounds with 風 (kaze): 北風 (kitakaze, north wind) — kun-yomi compound. The kanji 北 originally pictured two people back-to-back → meaning "to turn one's back / be defeated" survives in 敗北 (haiboku, defeat).

Quick check

1. Why does 敗北 (defeat) end with the kanji for "north"?

   • Original 北 pictured two people back-to-back → turning the back → fleeing / defeat
   • Many battles were lost in the north
   • The North Pole is fearsome
   • Phonetic coincidence