Japanese symbol for “align”

方向付ける

ほうこうづける

Romaji: houkouzukeru

to direct; to guide; to orient; to orientate

In Japanese, align is 方向付ける, read ほうこうづける (houkouzukeru).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

v1 to direct; to guide; to orient; to orientate; to align

Written forms: 方向付ける、方向づける. Readings: ほうこうづける.

Kanji and stroke order

方

direction, person, alternative

on: ホウ
kun: かた、-かた、-がた

4 strokes · JLPT 3

向

yonder, facing, beyond

on: コウ
kun: む.く、む.い、-む.き、む.ける

6 strokes · JLPT 2

付

adhere, attach, refer to

on: フ
kun: つ.ける、-つ.ける、-づ.ける、つ.け

5 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “align”

Word	Reading	Meaning
排する	はいする haisuru	to align; to put in order
排す	はいす haisu	to align; to put in order
足並みが揃う	あしなみがそろう ashinamigasorou	to align (with another's thoughts or actions); to be on the same page
足並みを揃える	あしなみをそろえる ashinamiosoroeru	to align (with another's thoughts or actions); to get on the same page

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
方法	ほうほう houhou	method; way; manner
一方	いっぽう ippou	one (esp. of two); the other; one way
地方	ちほう chihou	district; region; area
方向	ほうこう houkou	direction; orientation; bearing
仕方	しかた shikata	way; method; means
方針	ほうしん houshin	policy; course; plan (of action)
傾向	けいこう keikou	tendency; trend; inclination
向上	こうじょう koujou	elevation; rise; improvement
付近	ふきん fukin	neighborhood; neighbourhood; vicinity

See also: Chinese symbol for “align”.

Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.