nán
nounBeginner
general

The cardinal direction opposite to north, typically associated with warmer climates and lower latitudes.

南半球的夏天是北半球的冬天。

Summer in the Southern Hemisphere is winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

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In Chinese, '南' is often used in geographical and directional contexts, such as '南方' (the south) or '南极' (the South Pole).

geographical

A region or area located in the southern part of a country or continent.

中国的南方以亚热带气候为主。

Southern China is primarily characterized by a subtropical climate.

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In this context, '南' refers to a specific region rather than just a direction.

Collocations

南方the south南极the South Pole南下to go south

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

南辕北辙idiom
to go in the opposite direction of one's goal
南来北往phrase
to come from the south and go to the north

💡Pro Tip

Directional vs. Geographical

'南' can refer to both the direction south and to southern regions. Context helps determine the specific meaning.

Gold Rule

Geographical Usage

When '南' is used to refer to a region, it is often combined with other characters, such as '南方' (the south) or '南部' (southern part).

📖Word Origin

The character '南' is derived from the ancient Chinese pictograph representing a bird flying south, symbolizing the direction.

📝Usage Notes

'南' is commonly used in both directional and geographical contexts. It can refer to the direction south or to regions in the southern part of a country or continent.

Word Breakdown

south
root
汉英词典