How to Say "North" in Cantonese

北

bak¹

In Cantonese, the word for north is 北 (bak¹). Wiktionary also lists 北方 (bak¹ fong¹).

Meaning: compass point (noun)

Ways to say it

“north” in Cantonese
Cantonese	Romanization (Wiktionary)
北	bak¹
北方	bak¹ fong¹

The term is used to denote the compass point north.

While 北 refers specifically to the direction north, 北方 is used when referring to the north as a geographical area or the northern regions.

In Guangzhou, people commonly use the phrase 北邊 when referring to the north direction.

bak¹

The character 北 originally depicted two people standing back to back, representing the idea of turning one's back or retreating.
In traditional Cantonese culture and Feng Shui, the direction 'north' is inextricably linked to the element 'water' and the winter season.
In the Cantonese slang used in Hong Kong, the phrase 北上 specifically describes the act of traveling to mainland China, regardless of the actual destination's distance from the north.

聖誕老人住喺北極。
Santa lives at the North Pole.
This sentence uses 北 to mention the North Pole.
Tatoeba #5738672 by nickyeow, translation #3716026 by Jesse
駝鹿係鹿家族入面最大嘅成員。雄性嘅體重可以高達726公斤，而且企喺肩膀嘅高度可以達到2米半。佢哋嘅鹿角有超過一米嘅分佈。佢哋曾經喺覆蓋咗而家美國東北部嘅森林入面散佈。
The moose is the largest member of the deer family. Males can weigh as much as 726 kilos and stand as high as 2-and-a-half meters at the shoulder. Their antlers have a spread of more than a meter. They once ranged throughout the forests that covered the north-eastern part of what's now the United States.
This sentence uses 北 to refer to the north-eastern part of a region.
Tatoeba #13488412 by Davidgo5867, translation #12268423 by Cangarejo
琳琳，我們要往北面走。
Lam Lam, we need to go North.
13 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are looking at a map in a park.

美玲 Mei Ling

地圖顯示我哋要去北邊。
dei6 tou4 sin2 si6 ngo5 dei6 jiu3 heoi3 bak1 bin1.
The map shows we need to go north.
子健 Tsz Kin

原來係噉，我哋行錯方向喇。
jyun4 coi4 hai6 gam2, ngo5 dei6 haang4 co3 fong1 hoeng3 laa3.
So that's how it is, we walked the wrong way.
美玲 Mei Ling

你睇吓，嗰邊係北面。
nei5 tai2 haa5, go2 bin1 hai6 bak1 min6.
Look, that way is north.
子健 Tsz Kin

好，我哋即刻掉頭行。
hou2, ngo5 dei6 zik1 hak1 diu6 tau4 haang4.
Okay, let's turn around and go now.

Sources

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