n. (Hira=きた) north, direction opposite south on the compass, direction at one's left when facing the rising sun

n. (Trad=北, Pinyin=bei3) north

n. (Simp=北, Pinyin=bei3) north

¹ a shuttle; a spindle

---

² a drum

---

³ soil packed [piled up] around a plant

---

⁴ with a scratch [rasp, grate]; with a rip

---

[北] the north

nan2 yuan2 bei3 zhe2
South-pointing shafts and north-going tracks.
A contradictory situation resulting in an improper way of doing things and ending in the opposite of what one originally intended. Looking one way and rowing another.

tai4 shan1 bei3 dou3
Great as Mount Tai and the North Star.
Said of a person deserving great respect.