東

• Reading: ひがし
• Romaji: higashi
• Kanji breakdown: 東 (higashi/tou) — east
• Pronunciation: /çi.ɡa.ɕi/

Meaning

East. One of the four cardinal directions, frequently used in place names and navigation.

A noun for the cardinal direction east. Appears in countless Japanese place names, most famously 東京 (Tokyo, meaning 'eastern capital'). Can be read as ひがし in native Japanese or とう in Sino-Japanese compounds.

Examples

1. 太陽は東から出ます。 The sun rises in the east.
2. 東口で待っています。 I'm waiting at the east exit.
3. 私の家は駅の東にあります。 My house is to the east of the station.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, place names, geography

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 東 originally depicted a bag tied at both ends, but was borrowed for its phonetic value to represent the direction of the rising sun.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal