also: ほう · がた
noun
As かた, this direction sense is mostly seen in set or somewhat literary expressions such as あらぬ方. In everyday neutral Japanese, 方 read ほう is the usual reading for 'direction' or 'side'.
彼女は返事をせず、あらぬ方を見ていた。
She did not answer and was looking off in another direction.
noun
Respectful way to refer to a person, more polite than 人. Often used with この, その, あの, or どの, as in この方 and あちらの方.
この方をご存じですか。
Do you know this person?
あちらの方が新しい先生です。
That person over there is the new teacher.
noun, noun, used as a suffix
Very common after a verb stem or noun to mean how something is done or the way something is thought, made, used, and so on.
この漢字の書き方を教えてください。
Please teach me how to write this kanji.
彼とは考え方が少し違う。
My way of thinking is a little different from his.
noun, used as a suffix
Address-writing suffix meaning that mail is sent to someone at another person's address, comparable to English 'c/o'. Used after the name of the person or household receiving the mail.
封筒には「田中一郎方 山本花子様」と書いた。
On the envelope I wrote, 'Ms. Hanako Yamamoto, c/o Ichiro Tanaka.'
noun, used as a suffix
person in charge of; official responsible for
Limited suffix use in role names and older administrative or occupational terms. The reading may be かた or がた depending on the compound.
「勘定方」は、金銭の出納を担当する役目や人を指した。
Kanjō-gata referred to a role or person in charge of money accounts.
noun, used as a suffix
Suffix meaning a side, party, or family line. Common in kinship expressions such as 母方 and 父方; some compounds may use the voiced reading がた.
母方の祖父は北海道に住んでいる。
My grandfather on my mother's side lives in Hokkaido.
父方の親戚とは毎年正月に会う。
I meet my relatives on my father's side every New Year's.