noun
the North; northern territories
Often refers to northern regions or territories, such as Hokkaido or the Northern Territories.
北の国から来ました。
I come from the North.
noun
Abbreviation of 北朝鮮. Used in news and political contexts.
See also: 北朝鮮
北のミサイル発射が報じられた。
The North's missile launch was reported.
noun
Archaic use; now normally expressed as 北風.
古語では「北」が北風を意味することもある。
In old language, 北 can mean the north wind.
East; another cardinal direction.
West; another cardinal direction.
Full name for North Korea; 北 is the common abbreviation.
Modern word for north wind; 北 in this sense is archaic.
Native Japanese word for the cardinal direction north. The kanji 北 is a pictograph of two people back-to-back, originally meaning 'back' or 'to turn one's back', and was borrowed to represent the direction north in Chinese, a usage adopted in Japanese.