方 as a noun with a relative clause. What does it mean?


Today I encountered this sentence:

> その都市の治安はいい[方]{ほう}です。

The general meaning is simple: "The city is safe".

However, what does [方]{ほう} mean in this sentence? Is there an implicit
comparison? (ie, "The safety is the best aspect of the city") Does it simply
mean "side"? (ie, "Safety is a good aspect of the city").

Thanks.




There is indeed an implicit comparison, though not with other aspects of the
city but rather with other _cities_. I'd say a better translation would be
"That city is on the safer side" or "that's one of the safer cities."




There is indeed an implicit comparison, though not with other aspects of the
city but rather with other _cities_. I'd say a better translation would be
"That city is on the safer side" or "that's one of the safer cities."

