Meaning

Primary

East

Word Type

noun

Explanation

The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.

Reading

ひがし
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it should use the kun'yomi reading. When learning the kanji, you didn't learn that reading, so here's a mnemonic to help you with this word:

You see a man walking east, toward the sun rising behind that tree, but it's too bright. He trips and he gashes (ひがし) his foot on a root that was sticking out of the ground. His foot is torn up really bad, but he tries to take another step and, oh no, he gashes his foot again! This guy is not having an easy time going east.

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 東の方角

    easterly direction

    東の方向

    eastern direction

    東の空

    eastern sky

Context Sentences

ノースカロライナはアメリカの東にあります。

North Carolina is located in east of the United States.

ここから東へ行くと、川がありますよ。

If you go east from here, there is a river.

それでは、東の方を向いて下さい。

Then, please turn to the east.

Kanji Composition