北部

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 北部, read ほくぶ, and it combines 北, meaning north, with 部, meaning part or section.
• Basic usage: 北部 means the northern part of an island, town, region, or other defined area.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The north of a broad landform and a river crossing that area
  • Both examples use the form 北部. It locates a mountain chain in the north of an island and a river flowing through the northern part of a town.
• High island mountains and waterfowl in a northern river
  • 島の北部には高い山が連なっている。 — High mountains stretch across the northern part of the island.
  • 町の北部を流れる川で水鳥を見た。 — I saw waterfowl in the river flowing through the north of town.