nán

南

HSK 1Character · Noun

south; southern region; surname

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 15 examples
1.

noun

south; southern direction

Used to indicate the southern direction on a compass or in spatial orientation.

Tài太
yáng阳
cóng从
dōng东
fāng方
shēng升
qǐ起
 ,
xī西
fāng方
luò落
xià下
 ,
nán南
fāng方
zài在
yòu右
shǒu手
biān边
 。

The sun rises in the east, sets in the west, and south is on the right side.

Wǒ我
men们
de的
jiào教
shì室
cháo朝
nán南
 ,
suǒ所
yǐ以
dōng冬
tiān天
hěn很
nuǎn暖
huo和
 。

Our classroom faces south, so it's very warm in winter.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
zuò座
shān山
de的
nán南
biān边
yǒu有
yī一
tiáo条
xiǎo小
hé河
 。

There is a small river on the southern side of this mountain.

Fēng风
xiàng向
tū突
rán然
zhuǎn转
xiàng向
nán南
fāng方
 ,
dài带
lái来
le了
wēn温
nuǎn暖
de的
kōng空
qì气
 。

The wind suddenly turned to the south, bringing warm air.

Zhǐ指
nán南
zhēn针
zǒng总
shì是
zhǐ指
xiàng向
běi北
fāng方
hé和
nán南
fāng方
 。

A compass always points to the north and south.

2.

noun

southern region; the South

Refers to southern regions of China, typically south of the Yangtze River.

Zhōng中
guó国
nán南
fāng方
de的
qì气
hòu候
bǐ比
běi北
fāng方
wēn温
nuǎn暖
shī湿
rùn润
 。

The climate in southern China is warmer and more humid than in the north.

Tā他
gāng刚
cóng从
nán南
fāng方
huí回
lái来
 ,
dài带
lái来
le了
hěn很
duō多
dāng当
dì地
tè特
chǎn产
 。

He just returned from the South and brought many local specialties.

Show 3 more examples
Nán南
fāng方
rén人
xǐ喜
huan欢
chī吃
mǐ米
fàn饭
 ,
běi北
fāng方
rén人
xǐ喜
huan欢
chī吃
miàn面
shí食
 。

People in the South like to eat rice, while people in the North prefer wheat-based foods.

Zhè这
jiā家
cān餐
tīng厅
zhuān专
mén门
jīng经
yíng营
nán南
fāng方
fēng风
wèi味
de的
cài菜
yáo肴
 。

This restaurant specializes in southern-style dishes.

Nán南
fāng方
de的
yǔ雨
jì季
tōng通
cháng常
cóng从
wǔ五
yuè月
kāi开
shǐ始
 。

The rainy season in the South usually starts in May.

3.

noun

surname Nan

Used as a Chinese family name.

Wǒ我
de的
lǎo老
shī师
xìng姓
Nán南
 ,
wǒ我
men们
dōu都
jiào叫
tā他
Nán南
lǎo老
shī师
 。

My teacher's surname is Nan, and we all call him Teacher Nan.

Nán南
xiān先
sheng生
shì是
wǒ我
men们
gōng公
sī司
de的
zǒng总
jīng经
lǐ理
 。

Mr. Nan is the general manager of our company.

Show 3 more examples
Nán南
zhè这
ge个
xìng姓
shì氏
zài在
zhōng中
guó国
bù不
suàn算
tài太
cháng常
jiàn见
 。

The surname Nan is not very common in China.

Nán南
xiǎo小
jiě姐
 ,
qǐng请
wèn问
nín您
xū需
yào要
shén什
me么
bāng帮
zhù助
ma吗
 ?

Miss Nan, can I help you with anything?

Nán南
jiā家
zú族
zài在
zhōng中
guó国
lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
yǒu有
hěn很
duō多
míng名
rén人
 。

The Nan family has produced many famous people in Chinese history.