noun
direction; side; area in a direction
Refers to a direction, a general side, or an area lying in that direction. Often follows words such as 北, 駅, あちら, or 右.
駅の方へ歩いてください。
Please walk toward the station.
南の方は雨が強い。
The rain is heavy in the southern area.
noun
side; one's part; party in an argument
Used for a person’s or group’s side, responsibility, standpoint, or party in a dispute. Common in phrases such as 私の方 and あなたの方.
その件は私の方で確認します。
I will check that on my side.
私は最後まで彼の方についた。
I stayed on his side until the end.
noun
Places someone or something into a broad category, often with expressions like どちらかというと, 方だ, or 方に入る.
私はどちらかというと朝型の方です。
I am more of a morning person.
この犬は大型の方に入る。
This dog falls into the large-sized category.
noun
field; area of work or study
Refers somewhat broadly to a field, specialty, or line of work. This use can sound a little vague or indirect, as in 医療の方 or 法律の方.
彼女は医療の方で働いています。
She works in the medical field.
noun
the side in a comparison; the one that is more
Used in comparison patterns, especially Aの方がBより... or verb phrase + 方が..., to mark the option or side being compared.
この部屋の方があの部屋より明るい。
This room is brighter than that room.
歩くより自転車で行く方が早い。
Going by bicycle is faster than walking.
noun
As a standalone 方 read ほう, the meaning 'method' or 'means' is limited and uncommon in modern everyday Japanese; 方法, 手段, or a suffix 方 read かた is usually used instead.
古い文章では、方が「方法」や「手段」に近い意味で説明されることがある。
In older writing, 方 is sometimes explained as meaning something close to 'method' or 'means'.
noun
length of each side of a square
Rare measurement or geometry-related use, mainly in set expressions such as 方一尺, meaning a square whose sides are one shaku long.
「方一尺」は、一辺が一尺の正方形を意味する。
方一尺 means a square with each side measuring one shaku.
More explicitly means 'direction'; 方 is broader and can also mean side, category, comparison side, or field.
Means a side or party more concretely; 方 is often more abstract and is common in comparison patterns and vague references.
The normal modern word for 'method' or 'way'; 方 read ほう with this meaning is limited and uncommon.
A clearer word for an academic or professional field; 方 can refer to a field more vaguely or indirectly.
方 with the reading ほう is the Sino-Japanese reading of the kanji 方. The character is conventionally associated with broad ideas such as direction, side, square shape, and method; no detailed historical derivation for each usage is specified.