東側

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 東側, read ひがしがわ, and it combines 東, meaning east, with 側, meaning side.
• Basic usage: The basic sense of 東側 is the eastern side or part of a building, mountain, area, or other reference point.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An eastern location and the direction light comes from
  • Both examples use the form 東側. With に it identifies where a garden is located; with から it identifies the direction from which sunlight shines.
• A garden beside a building and morning light from the mountain's east side
  • 建物の東側に小さな庭がある。 — There is a small garden on the east side of the building.
  • 朝は山の東側から日が差し込む。 — In the morning, sunlight shines in from the east side of the mountain.