location; whereabouts; hiding place
Refers to the place where something or someone is located, often with a nuance of searching for or revealing that place. Can imply a hidden or secret location.
犯人のありかはまだわかっていない。
The whereabouts of the culprit are still unknown.
宝のありかを示す地図を見つけた。
I found a map showing the location of the treasure.
所在 is a more formal term for 'whereabouts' or 'location', often used in official contexts, whereas ありか is more colloquial and can imply a hidden place.
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 在り処, 在処, 在り所 are rare and may not be widely recognized.
Rare kanji spelling; 在りか is a mixed kana-kanji variant sometimes seen.
Rare kanji spelling.
Rare kanji spelling.
Derived from the verb ある (to exist) with the nominalizing suffix か (place), literally 'place where something exists'. The kanji 在 means 'exist' and 処/所 mean 'place', but the word is now usually written in kana.