What Does 南 Mean in Japanese?
南 means south.
It is common in directions, station exits, regional names, and words such as 南部 and 南米.
Study it with 東, 西, and 北 so the four cardinal directions form one connected set.
Reading
On’yomi: ナン (nan), ナ (na)
Kun’yomi: みなみ (minami)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 南 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | south |
| Stroke Count | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
南 can indicate a direction, the southern part of a place, or warmer regions associated with the south. It contrasts with 北.
Common Words
- 南（みなみ / minami） — south
- 南口（みなみぐち / minamiguchi） — south exit
- 南側（みなみがわ / minamigawa） — south side
- 南部（なんぶ / nanbu） — southern part
- 南北（なんぼく / nanboku） — north and south
- 南米（なんべい / nanbei） — South America
Example Sentences
-
南口の前にバス停があります。
みなみぐちのまえにばすていがあります。 / Minamiguchi no mae ni basutei ga arimasu.
There is a bus stop in front of the south exit.
-
家の南側は日当たりがいいです。
いえのみなみがわはひあたりがいいです。 / Ie no minamigawa wa hiatari ga ii desu.
The south side of the house gets good sunlight.
-
冬は南へ旅行したいです。
ふゆはみなみへりょこうしたいです。 / Fuyu wa minami e ryokou shitai desu.
I want to travel south in winter.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
The kun’yomi みなみ is common when 南 stands alone. The on’yomi ナン appears in compounds such as 南口, 南部, and 東南.
Summary
南 means south and is a basic kanji for navigation, geography, and weather-related language.