南: the kanji for south
南 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means south. Below are its readings, 11 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
南 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
南 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 11 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ナン (nan)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 南北なんぼく · nanboku | north and south |
| 東南アジアとうなんアジア · Tōnan Ajia | Southeast Asia |
| 南西なんせい · nansei | southwest |
| 南部なんぶ · nanbu | the southern part |
| 南米なんべい · Nanbei | South America |
| 南極なんきょく · nankyoku | the South Pole |
| 指南しなん · shinan | instruction; guidance |
みなみ (minami)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 南みなみ · minami | south |
| 南口みなみぐち · minamiguchi | south exit |
| 南向きみなみむき · minamimuki | facing south |
| 南風みなみかぜ · minamikaze | south wind |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 南口にタクシー乗り場があります。Minamiguchi ni takushī noriba ga arimasu.There's a taxi stand at the south exit.
- 東南アジアに工場があります。Tōnan Ajia ni kōjō ga arimasu.We have a factory in Southeast Asia.
- この部屋は南向きで明るいです。Kono heya wa minamimuki de akarui desu.This room faces south and is bright.
- 南米の支社と会議をします。Nanbei no shisha to kaigi o shimasu.We have a meeting with the South America office.
- 台風が南から近づいています。Taifū ga minami kara chikazuite imasu.A typhoon is approaching from the south.
- 九州は日本の南西にあります。Kyūshū wa Nihon no nansei ni arimasu.Kyushu is in the southwest of Japan.
Questions about 南
How many strokes does 南 have?
南 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 南?
The on readings are nan (ナン), na (ナ). The kun readings are minami (みなみ).
What is the difference between 南口 and 北口?
At a train station, 南口 (minamiguchi) is the south exit and 北口 (kitaguchi) is the north exit.
What JLPT level is 南?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Places and directions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 南
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.