法ほう

noun, noun, used as a suffix

law; act; principle

Refers to legal statutes, rules, or fundamental principles. Often used in compound words such as 法律 (ほうりつ) or as a suffix in names of laws.

• 新あたらしい法ほうが国こっ会かいで成せい立りつした。

  A new law was passed in the Diet.

• この行こう為いは法ほうに触ふれる可か能のう性せいがある。

  This act may be against the law.

noun, noun, used as a suffix

method; way

Indicates a way of doing something. Common in compounds like 方法 (ほうほう) and as a suffix in terms like 使用法 (しようほう, usage).

• この機き械かいの正ただしい使し用よう法ほうを教おしえてください。

  Please tell me the correct way to use this machine.

• 彼かれは独どく自じの勉べん強きょう法ほうで合ごう格かくした。

  He passed using his own study method.

noun, noun, used as a suffix

mood (grammar)

Technical term in grammar for verbal mood (indicative, subjunctive, etc.).

• 仮か定てい法ほうは英えい語ごの文ぶん法ぽうで重じゅう要ような法ほうの一ひとつだ。

  The subjunctive mood is one of the important moods in English grammar.

noun, noun, used as a suffix

dharma; law (Buddhism)

Buddhist term for the teachings of the Buddha or the universal law. Often appears in religious contexts.

• 仏ぶっ教きょうでは、法ほうは宇う宙ちゅうの真しん理りを指さす。

  In Buddhism, dharma refers to the truth of the universe.