Cardinal and intermediate directions


The four cardinal directions are the directions **north** , **east** ,
**south** , and **west**. The intermediate directions are **northeast** ,
**southeast** , **southwest** , and **northwest**. In English it would be
incorrect to say _eastnorth_ , for example. But in Japanese 東北 (literally
_eastnorth_ ) and 西北 (literally _westnorth_ ) are quite right _(BUT 南東 and
南西!)_

Which directions are considered primary and intermediate in Japan? If
everything is just the same as in the West, why do we say 東北, not 北東, and 西北
instead of 北西?

Thank you!




Sometimes confusion arises because there are two different systems of
classifying cardinal directions in Japanese. There is a system which uses the
Western style of emphasizing **North/South** as the first part of the word.
This is the dominant system in Japan now. But there is also a system which
apparently originated in China which emphasizes **East/West** in the first
part of the word. This is disappearing and some of the cardinal points are not
used much (if ever) now. Here is how the two systems differ.

> **Western System**
>
> **N** 北  
>  **NE** 北東  
>  **E** 東  
>  **SE** 南東  
>  **S** 南  
>  **SW** 南西  
>  **W** 西  
>  **NW** 北西

.................................................................

> **'Chinese' System**
>
> **N** 北  
>  **NE** 東北  
>  **E** 東  
>  **SE** 東南  
>  **S** 南  
>  **SW** 西南  
>  **W** 西  
>  **NW** 西北

As mentioned, the Western system is dominant but there are cases where the
Chinese system is still used. For example, you get names like 東北 and 東南アジア
whereas the term 西南 isn’t in everyday use. I think you will still find all the
'Chinese style' directions listed in a dictionary, but they have been
superseded by the Western system for the most part.




Sometimes confusion arises because there are two different systems of
classifying cardinal directions in Japanese. There is a system which uses the
Western style of emphasizing **North/South** as the first part of the word.
This is the dominant system in Japan now. But there is also a system which
apparently originated in China which emphasizes **East/West** in the first
part of the word. This is disappearing and some of the cardinal points are not
used much (if ever) now. Here is how the two systems differ.

> **Western System**
>
> **N** 北  
>  **NE** 北東  
>  **E** 東  
>  **SE** 南東  
>  **S** 南  
>  **SW** 南西  
>  **W** 西  
>  **NW** 北西

.................................................................

> **'Chinese' System**
>
> **N** 北  
>  **NE** 東北  
>  **E** 東  
>  **SE** 東南  
>  **S** 南  
>  **SW** 西南  
>  **W** 西  
>  **NW** 西北

As mentioned, the Western system is dominant but there are cases where the
Chinese system is still used. For example, you get names like 東北 and 東南アジア
whereas the term 西南 isn’t in everyday use. I think you will still find all the
'Chinese style' directions listed in a dictionary, but they have been
superseded by the Western system for the most part.

