Meaning of 西南
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- southwest
How to use 西南
西南 is a direction noun used for places, winds, and regions, and 西南地区 often refers to China's southwest, such as Sichuan and Yunnan. Example: 成都在中国的西南。(Chéngdū zài Zhōngguó de xīnán.) Chengdu is in the southwest of China.
西南 (xīnán) is simply 西 (xī, west) plus 南 (nán, south), so together they point southwest. Picture a compass needle swinging halfway between west and south.
Common mistake: English says "southwest" with south first, so learners often say 南西, which is wrong. In Chinese, east or west comes first: 西南, 东南, 西北, 东北.
西南 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
西 xī · west · 6 strokes
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南 nán · south · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 西南.
| 东西 | dōngxi | east and west |
| 南边 | nánbian | south; south side |
| 西边 | xībian | west; west side |
| 南方 | nánfāng | south; southern direction; (in China) southern regions, often referring to areas south of |
| 西方 | xīfāng | the West; the Occident |
| 西北 | xīběi | northwest |
| 东南 | dōngnán | southeast |
| 西餐 | xīcān | Western-style food |
| 西医 | xīyī | Western medicine; a doctor trained in Western medicine |
| 西部 | xībù | western part |
| 南部 | nánbù | southern part |
| 西瓜 | xīguā | watermelon |
Questions about 西南
What does 西南 mean?
西南 (xīnán) means "southwest" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 西南?
西南 is made of 2 characters: 西 (6 strokes), 南 (9 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 西南 an HSK word?
Yes. 西南 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do I say "to the southwest of" a place?
Put the place first, then 的西南 or 西南边. For example, 学校的西南边有一个公园 (xuéxiào de xīnánbian yǒu yí ge gōngyuán) means there is a park southwest of the school.
Is the tone of 南 in 西南 still second tone?
Yes. 西南 is read xī nán, first tone then second tone, with no tone change. Keep both syllables clear, since the second syllable is not neutral.