四し方ほう

noun

the four cardinal directions; north, east, south, and west; all directions

Refers to the four compass points or, by extension, every direction. Common in both literal and figurative contexts.

• その塔とうからは四し方ほうが見み渡わたせる。

  From that tower you can see in all four directions.

• 敵てきに四し方ほうを囲かこまれた。

  We were surrounded on all sides by the enemy.

noun

surroundings; the area around one

Only with reading しほう / よほう

Used for the immediate vicinity or environment. Often appears with を見回す or similar verbs.

• 彼かれは四し方ほうを見み回まわしてから道みちを渡わたった。

  He looked around him before crossing the street.

noun

many countries; the whole world

Only with reading しほう

Literary or formal expression for 'all lands' or 'the world at large'. Not used in everyday conversation.

• 彼かれの名めい声せいは四し方ほうに知しれ渡わたった。

  His fame spread throughout the world.

noun

all around; here and there

Only with reading よも

Archaic/literary reading よも used in classical or poetic contexts to mean 'everywhere' or 'in all directions'.

• 四方よもの海うみを渡わたる風かぜ。

  The wind that crosses the seas in all directions.

noun

square; quadrilateral; four sides

Only with reading しほう / よほう

Refers to a four-sided shape or the four sides of a square. Sense 6 (four sides) is essentially a subset of this geometric meaning.

• この土と地ちは四し方ほうが道どう路ろに囲かこまれている。

  This plot of land is surrounded by roads on all four sides.

• 正せい方ほう形けいは四し方ほうが等ひとしい。

  A square has four equal sides.