行方
Meanings
whereabouts; where someone or something is
Most common in contexts of locating someone or something, especially when their location is unknown; frequent in 行方不明.
His whereabouts are still unknown.
The police are searching for the missing child.
destination; where someone or something is headed
Refers to the direction, route, or destination being followed, rather than the present location.
The child followed with his eyes where the balloon was going.
outcome; course of events; direction things will take
Abstract use for how an event, contest, negotiation, election, or situation will develop or turn out.
It is still impossible to predict the outcome of the election.
Many employees are watching how the meeting will turn out.
future; road ahead; journey ahead
A more literary or old-fashioned extension referring to a person's future course in life; modern Japanese often uses 将来, 前途, or 行く末 for this idea.
In older writing, 行方 in a phrase like “thinking of the young person's 行方” can refer to their future.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉の行方が分からないsomeone's whereabouts are unknown
After the accident, his whereabouts became unknown.
- 〈人〉の行方を捜すto search for someone's whereabouts
The police did everything they could to find his whereabouts.
- 〈物〉の行方を追うto track where something is headed
The search continued as they tracked where the ship was headed.
- 〈事〉の行方を見守るto watch how a matter will turn out
The public is watching closely to see how the election will turn out.
- 〈事〉の行方が注目されるthe outcome of an event draws attention
The outcome of the negotiations is attracting attention both at home and abroad.