北方 běifāng north
north; the northern part of the country
How to remember 北方: 北 north + 方 direction = north.
Characters
How it is used
- The north as a region of the country, not just a compass point - 北方人 (běifāng rén) a northerner, 北方的冬天很冷 (běifāng de dōngtiān hěn lěng) winters in the north are cold.
- Contrast 北边 (běibian) the north side/direction of a specific place. For pure compass bearing use 北 (běi); 北方 carries the sense of a whole region.
Example sentences
- 北方在下雪。 Běifāng zài xiàxuě.It's snowing in the north.