南 meaning and stroke order
South
How to write 南, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 南
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- south
- used in 南無|南无[na1 mo2]
- Taiwan pr. [na2]
How 南 is built
Pictographic character. A musical bell.
Radical: 十 (ten), shared by 23 characters on this site.
How to remember 南
The etymology data says 南 began as a picture of a musical bell: 十 is the handle on top, 冂 is the bell body, and 丷 over 干 inside is the clapper. Picture a bell hanging in a warm southern temple, ringing toward the sun.
南 (nán) means south and appears in direction words and place names like 南京 (Nánjīng) and 南方 (nánfāng). In Chinese, compass directions put 东 or 西 first, so southeast is 东南 (dōngnán), not 南东. Example: 我家在城市的南边。(Wǒ jiā zài chéngshì de nánbian.) My home is on the south side of the city.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 南 (nán, south) with 男 (nán, male) because they sound identical. Also check the inside: 南 has 丷 over 干, so do not write it like 幸 or leave out the top dot pair.
Common words with 南
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 南边 | nánbian | south; south side | HSK 1 |
| 南方 | nánfāng | south; southern direction; (in China) southern regions, often referring to areas south of | HSK 2 |
| 西南 | xīnán | southwest | HSK 2 |
| 东南 | dōngnán | southeast | HSK 2 |
| 南部 | nánbù | southern part | HSK 3 |
| 南极 | nánjí | the South Pole; the south magnetic pole | HSK 5 |
| 南北 | nánběi | north and south; north to south | HSK 5 |
| 南瓜 | nánguā | pumpkin | HSK 7-9 |
| 指南 | zhǐnán | to guide; guidebook | HSK 7-9 |
| 指南针 | zhǐnánzhēn | compass | HSK 7-9 |
| 南面 | nánmiàn | south side; south | |
| 南下 | nánxià | to go down south | |
| 以南 | yǐnán | to the south of (suffix) | |
| 西南部 | xīnánbù | southwest part |
南 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 南
Learning 南 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 南
How many strokes are in 南?
南 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 南 mean?
南 (nán) means south. A common word with it is 南边 (nánbian), meaning "south; south side".
How do you pronounce 南?
南 is pronounced nán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 南?
The radical of 南 is 十, which carries the idea of "ten". Dictionaries list 南 under this radical.
Is 南 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 南 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
How do you say southeast and southwest in Chinese?
Say 东南 (dōngnán) for southeast and 西南 (xīnán) for southwest. East or west comes first, which is the reverse of English order.
Is 南 ever pronounced nā?
Yes, but only in the Buddhist phrase 南无 (nāmó), as in 南无阿弥陀佛, meaning to pay homage. In Taiwan it is often read ná in this phrase. Everywhere else it is nán.