Meanings Jump to a sense… 1. one side; the other side; one party 2. on the one hand; on the other hand 3. whereas; while; meanwhile 4. keep on ...ing; tend to ...; only ... Usage patterns 〈 事こと 〉 一いっ 方ぽう で 、 〈 事こと 〉 while X is true, Y is also true (contrast)
He is strict about work, but on the other hand, he's kind to his subordinates.
〈 事こと 〉 一いっ 方ぽう 、 〈 事こと 〉 whereas X, Y (mid-sentence contrast)
The older brother is lively, whereas the younger one is quiet.
〈 動どう 詞し 〉 一いっ 方ぽう だ just keeps ...ing (unstoppable one-way trend)
Prices just keep going up.
一いっ 方ぽう の 〈 人ひと 〉 one of the two (people/parties)
One of the twins is a doctor, and the other is a lawyer.
Expressions その 一いっ 方ぽう meanwhile; in the meantime; at the same time · in contrast; on the other hand 一いっ 方ぽう 石いし に 死し になし one weak group can defend; one group of weak stones doesn't die Kanji 方 direction, person, alternative Related words· 11 反面 highlights a contrasting aspect of the same subject ('while also being...'), whereas 一方 more neutrally links two contrasting facts or clauses.
ばかり after a verb stresses 'only/nothing but', while 一方だ after a verb stresses a steady, one-directional trend like prices only rising.
片方 is the everyday word for 'one of a pair' (like one shoe), while 一方 is more formal and also covers abstract parties, not just physical pairs.
片側 describes one physical side of a concrete object like a road or vehicle, while 一方 is broader and often used for abstract directions, parties, or aspects.
Show 7 more Show fewer 一方 is the more common, everyday word for 'one side' or 'on the other hand', while 他方 is a more formal, literary term used specifically for 'the other' of two things and appears far less often.
一方 is the common word for 'on the other hand' in everyday speech, while 一面 is more formal and typically used in written or structured arguments.
一方 highlights a contrast or parallel between two facts, while 傍ら (in its 'while doing' sense) marks a secondary activity carried out alongside a main occupation.
一方 is a broader connector for "on the other hand/meanwhile" usable even between unrelated topics, while 半面 specifically contrasts two aspects of one and the same thing.
一方 introduces a contrasting or additional point ('on the other hand'), similar to sense 3 of 同時に , but 同時に adds a stronger nuance of simultaneity.
一方 is a very common conjunction for 'meanwhile/on the other hand' in everyday speech, whereas 他面 is stiffer and confined to formal or written contexts.
一方 means 'on the other hand' and is often paired with また (また一方で ) to introduce a contrast, but used alone it is more formal and noun-like than また .
Opposites 一方 names 'one side/party' while 他方 names 'the other side/party' in the same contrastive pair.
一方 means just one side of two, the direct opposite of 双方 , which means both sides together.
一方 refers to just one of the two sides or parties, in contrast to 両者 which refers to both together.
Don't confuse with 双方 means 'both sides/parties' while 一方 means only 'one side/party', so they are easy to mix up but opposite in scope.
一方 (as a noun/conjunction meaning 'one side' or 'on the other hand') shares its kanji with 一方的 but lacks the 'unbalanced/unilateral' nuance that 的 adds.
一方 alone usually means 'on the other hand' or 'one side' in general statements, while 一方通行 specifically names one-way traffic or a one-sided process.
Word family one-way traffic · one-way; one-sided
one-sided; unilateral; arbitrary
one side; one party; the other side; the other party · one of a pair; the other one; the mate
one-way traffic
defensive-only; constantly on the defensive
Written forms 一いっ 方ぽう Usage 97%
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
いっぽう Usage 3%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing, especially for the conjunction and suffix uses.
Etymology Compound of 一 (one) and 方 (direction/side). The conjunction and suffix uses developed from the noun meaning 'one direction/side', implying a one-sided or continuing state.
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