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北北西 (hokuhokusei) Japanese meaning: north-northwest | Kotomora

北ほく北ほく西せい

ほ

く

ほ

く

せ

い

Meanings

1

north-northwest

A cardinal direction halfway between north and northwest, used in navigation, weather reports, and geographical descriptions.

台たい風ふうは北ほく北ほく西せいに進すすんでいる。

The typhoon is moving north-northwest.

風かざ向むきは北ほく北ほく西せいです。

The wind direction is north-northwest.

Kanji

北north
西west, Spain

Don't confuse with

北ほく北ほく東とう
北北西 (north-northwest) looks almost identical in writing to 北北東 (north-northeast) but points to the opposite side of north.

Written forms

北ほく北ほく西せいUsage100%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
北ほく々ほく西せい
Variant using the iteration mark 々; less common but still encountered.

Etymology

Compound of 北 (north) repeated and 西 (west), following the pattern for intermediate compass directions.