also: さんぽう
noun
three sides; three directions
Refers to three physical sides, three parties, or three directions. Common in set phrases like 三方を海に囲まれた (surrounded by sea on three sides).
その半島は三方を海に囲まれている。
The peninsula is surrounded by the sea on three sides.
神主が三方にお神酒を載せた。
The Shinto priest placed the sacred sake on the offering stand.
Composed of 三 (three) and 方 (direction/side). The reading さんぼう is a standard compound reading; the variant さんぽう reflects a less common phonetic shift.