Archaic term for the northwest direction, derived from the Chinese zodiac system where 戌 (dog) and 亥 (boar) correspond to west-north and north-north respectively, combining to indicate northwest. Not used in modern everyday speech; replaced by 北西 (ほくせい).
On old maps, it is written that the demon gate lies in the northwest direction.
Archaic kanji spelling for the northwest direction, using the zodiac signs for the dog (戌) and boar (亥).
Alternate archaic kanji spelling for northwest; also read けん or ほし in other contexts.
Kana spelling is practical for learners, as the kanji forms are rare and easily confused with other readings.
From the Chinese zodiac signs 戌 (dog, associated with west-north) and 亥 (boar, associated with north-north), combined to represent the northwest direction. The reading いぬい is the kun'yomi of the two characters. The alternate kanji 乾 is also used for northwest in traditional directional systems.