Japanese symbol for “orientation”
方向
ほうこう
Romaji: houkou
direction; orientation; bearing; way
In Japanese, orientation is 方向, read ほうこう (houkou).
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
- n direction; orientation; bearing; way
- n course (e.g. of action)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “orientation”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 向き | むき muki | direction; orientation; aspect |
| 志向 | しこう shikou | intention; aim; preference (for) |
| 配向 | はいこう haikou | orientation |
| オリエンテーション | オリエンテーション orienteeshon | orientation |
| 定位 | ていい teii | position; orientation |
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 |
| 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 |
| 向き | むき muki | direction; orientation; aspect |
See also: Chinese symbol for “orientation”.
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.