〜方（〜かた） kata

〜方（〜かた）（kata）means “way / method of doing”. Attached to the ます-stem of a verb (drop ます), 〜方 turns the verb into a noun meaning "the way of doing it. Formation: V-ます（ます形のます を取った形）+ 方（かた）

way / method of doing

N5

Formation

V-ます（ます形のます を取った形）+ 方（かた）

Explanation

Attached to the ます-stem of a verb (drop ます), 〜方 turns the verb into a noun meaning "the way of doing it." 食べる → 食べ方 = "how to eat," 使う → 使い方 = "how to use." The whole phrase is a noun and takes particles like を or が.

Examples

この きかい の 使い方 を おしえて ください。
この きかい の つかいかた を おしえて ください。
Please teach me how to use this machine.
かんじ の 書き方 が わかりません。
かんじ の かきかた が わかりません。
I don't know how to write this kanji.

Note

When the verb takes を, it often changes to の before 方 (パンを食べる → パンの食べ方).

FAQ

〜方（〜かた） — what does it mean and how is it used?

way / method of doing. Attached to the ます-stem of a verb (drop ます), 〜方 turns the verb into a noun meaning "the way of doing it." 食べる → 食べ方 = "how to eat," 使う → 使い方 = "how to use." The whole phrase is a noun and takes particles like を or が.

〜方（〜かた） — how do you form it?

V-ます（ます形のます を取った形）+ 方（かた）

〜方（〜かた） — any usage notes?

When the verb takes を, it often changes to の before 方 (パンを食べる → パンの食べ方).

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