Translation and Meaning of: 北 - kita

The Japanese word 北[きた] is one of the most basic and essential for those learning the language. Its main meaning is "north," but it carries cultural nuances and practical uses that go beyond simple geographical direction. In this article, we will explore everything from writing and pronunciation to the context in which this word appears in everyday Japanese. If you're looking to understand how to use きた correctly or want to discover curiosities about its origin, you’ve come to the right place – Suki Nihongo, the best Japanese dictionary for students.

Meaning and usage of 北[きた]

In Japanese, 北[きた] is used to indicate the direction north, whether in maps, directions, or descriptions of location. Unlike Portuguese, where "norte" can appear in more abstract contexts, such as in metaphorical expressions, Japanese tends to use きた in a more literal sense. For example, saying "北海道は日本の北にある" (Hokkaido is to the north of Japan) is a direct and common usage.

It is worth mentioning that きた also forms important words, such as 北東 (hokutou, northeast) and 北西 (hokusei, northwest). These terms are often used in weather forecasts or to describe routes. If you have ever watched a Japanese news broadcast, you have probably heard きた in contexts like "北からの寒気" (cold air coming from the north).

The origin and writing of the kanji 北

The kanji 北 is composed of two radicals: 匕 (spoon) and 人 (person). Originally, in ancient Chinese writing, it represented two people back to back, symbolizing opposition – hence its secondary meaning of "defeat" (as in 敗北, haiboku). Over time, the sense of "north" prevailed in modern Japanese.

One tip to memorize this kanji is to associate its shape with a map: imagine that the two "legs" of the radical 人 are pointing to the North Pole. This visual technique helps many students, especially since 北 is one of the most common kanjis in the JLPT N5.

Cultural curiosities about the north of Japan

In Japan, the northern region (特に北海道) has a striking cultural identity, associated with harsh winters, unique cuisine, and stunning landscapes. When Japanese people speak of 北, they are often referring to Hokkaido, famous for its snow festivals and seafood. This association is so strong that many animes and dramas use 北 as a symbol of adventure or isolation.

Another interesting aspect is the use of 北 in place names and companies. The airline 北海道航空 (Hokkaido Airlines) and the brand 北の屋台 (northern stalls) are examples of how the word transcends geographical meaning. For the Japanese, きた can evoke both a direction and a feeling of the cold climate and hospitality characteristic of the north of the country.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 北極 (Hokkyoku) - North Pole
• 北方 (Hoppou) - North Direction; Northern Region
• 北部 (Hokubu) - Northern Part; Northern Region
• 北端 (Hokutan) - Northernmost Point
• 北側 (Kitagawa) - North Side; North Face

北

Romaji: kita
Kana: きた
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: north

Meaning in English: North

Definition: This direction of Earth's magnet.

Example Sentences - (北) kita

See below some example sentences:

淡水は台湾の北部にある美しい港町です。

Dansui wa Taiwan no hokubu ni aru utsukushii koumachi desu

Danshui is a beautiful port city located in the northern part of Taiwan.

Tamami is a beautiful port city in the northern part of Taiwan.

• 淡水 - Name of the city of Tamsui
• は - Topic particle
• 台湾 - Taiwan
• の - Possessive particle
• 北部 - Region norte
• に - Location particle
• ある - Verb "to be" in the present
• 美しい - Adjective "beautiful"
• 港町 - harbor
• です - Verb "to be" in the present

敗北を受け入れることが勝利への第一歩です。

Haiboku wo ukeireru koto ga shouri e no daiichiho desu

Accepting defeat is the first step to victory.

Accepting defeat is the first step to victory.

• 敗北 (haiboku) - defeat
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 受け入れる (ukeireru) - accept, receive
• こと (koto) - noun maker
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 勝利 (shouri) - victory
• への (he no) - Direction particle
• 第一歩 (daiippou) - First step
• です (desu) - verb to be, to stay

南北に広がる景色は美しいです。

Nanboku ni hirogaru keshiki wa utsukushii desu

The view stretching south and north is beautiful.

The scenery that has spread to the north and south is beautiful.

• 南北に - indicates the direction to the southeast
• 広がる - verb meaning "to spread" or "to extend"
• 景色 - noun that means "landscape" or "view"
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - linking verb indicating present tense and formality

この道は北に向いています。

Kono michi wa kita ni muite imasu

This road faces north.

This road is to the north.

• この道 - this road
• は - Topic particle
• 北に - to the north
• 向いています - is facing

北極は氷の世界です。

Hokkyoku wa kōri no sekai desu

The Arctic is a world of ice.

The Arctic is the world of ice.

• 北極 - Proper name referring to Polo Norte.
• は - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 氷 - "Noun meaning 'ice'."
• の - Japanese grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship between nouns.
• 世界 - Noun that means "world".
• です - The verb to be in the polite and formal form of Japanese.

北海道は日本の北にあります。

Hokkaido wa Nihon no kita ni arimasu

Hokkaido is located in northern Japan.

• 北海道 - Name of the region located in northern Japan.
• は - Grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 日本 - Name of the country where the region of Hokkaido is located.
• の - A grammatical particle that indicates possession or belonging.
• 北 - Character that means "north".
• に - Grammatical particle that indicates the direction or the place where something is.
• あります - Verb "to be" in the polite form, indicating the existence of something.