also: ほう · がた
She did not answer and was looking off in another direction.
Respectful way to refer to a person, more polite than 人. Often used with この, その, あの, or どの, as in この方 and あちらの方.
この方をご存じですか。
Do you know this person?
あちらの方が新しい先生です。
That person over there is the new teacher.
Very common after a verb stem or noun to mean how something is done or the way something is thought, made, used, and so on.
この漢字の書き方を教えてください。
Please teach me how to write this kanji.
彼とは考え方が少し違う。
My way of thinking is a little different from his.
Address-writing suffix meaning that mail is sent to someone at another person's address, comparable to English 'c/o'. Used after the name of the person or household receiving the mail.
封筒には「田中一郎方 山本花子様」と書いた。
On the envelope I wrote, 'Ms. Hanako Yamamoto, c/o Ichiro Tanaka.'
person in charge of; official responsible for
Limited suffix use in role names and older administrative or occupational terms. The reading may be かた or がた depending on the compound.
「勘定方」は、金銭の出納を担当する役目や人を指した。
Kanjō-gata referred to a role or person in charge of money accounts.
Suffix meaning a side, party, or family line. Common in kinship expressions such as 母方 and 父方; some compounds may use the voiced reading がた.
母方の祖父は北海道に住んでいる。
My grandfather on my mother's side lives in Hokkaido.
父方の親戚とは毎年正月に会う。
I meet my relatives on my father's side every New Year's.
I was taught the correct way to sit.
The letter was addressed 'c/o Yamada, Ms. Hanako Suzuki.'
方 is the polite/honorific way to refer to a person, while 者 is neutral or even humble, as in 私のような者.
方 sounds identical to 型 but means 'way/method' or is a polite word for 'person', not a physical pattern or mold.
friend; ally; supporter · taking sides with; supporting; backing up
way of thinking; mindset; approach
early evening; dusk
way of saying; wording; phrasing; expression
viewpoint; point of view; way of looking · way of understanding; how to read; way of appreciating
way of life; how to live
way of making; construction; workmanship · recipe; how to make (food) · how to grow; cultivation method
way of writing; how to write · penmanship; calligraphy · format; layout · stroke order
pronunciation; reading (of a kanji) · way of reading aloud; manner of reading · interpretation; reading (of a text)
ideal state; the way something should be · current state; how things are
partner; companion · partner for the night
way of talking; speaking style
lady; gentleman; person
early morning; early hours
how to choose; way of choosing; choice
behind-the-scenes worker; backstage crew; offstage support · lady consort; concubine of a noble
majority; most; large part · general public; people in general · mostly; for the most part; almost · probably; likely; I expect
other party; opposing party; opponent
dawn; daybreak
way of attaching; how to affix · way of recording; how to enter (in a log)
way; method; means
attitude; approach; move · theater usher
mother's side of the family; maternal line · maternal (relative)
gentlemen; men · men's (sign on toilet, bathroom, etc. doors)
way of standing; stance; posture · dancer (in Japanese dance)
way of proceeding; procedure; format
way of tying a knot
Voiced suffix reading used in some compounds for 'side' or for older role/person-in-charge terms; Also がた for these suffix senses.