南
naam⁴
The English word 'south' is translated into Cantonese as 南 (naam⁴). Wiktionary also lists 南方 (naam⁴ fong¹).
Meaning: compass point (noun)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 南 | naam⁴ |
| 南方 | naam⁴ fong¹ |
南 is used to denote the cardinal direction south. When you want to refer to the southern part of a country or the southern regions in general, you use 南方.
Which one should you use?
南 refers specifically to the direction south, whereas 南方 refers to the southern part of a country or the southern regions. Additionally, you can form the noun meaning the south side or the southern face of an object or location by adding the character 面 (min6) to 南, resulting in 南面.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
naam⁴
Did you know?
- In ancient Chinese orientation, the 'south' was considered the primary direction, meaning that many early maps were oriented with 南 at the top rather than 'north'.
- While 南 means 'south', Cantonese speakers use the term 南下 ('going south') as a specific historical idiom for migrating from mainland China to Hong Kong.
- In traditional Feng Shui, the 南面 (south face) of a building is considered the most prestigious position, often reserved for the head of the household or the Emperor.
Examples in context
- 佢試圖透過自己穿過非洲嘅一半嚟籌集建立一個脊髓傷害康復中心所需嘅290萬美元。 佢揀咗南非做佢嘅目的地，因為嗰度係最近嘅中心。He’s trying to raise the $2.9 million needed to build a spinal chord injury rehab center by wheeling himself halfway across Africa. He chose South Africa as his destination, because that is where the nearest center is located.This sentence uses 南 in the context of South Africa.Tatoeba #12908394 by Matthewyau1367, translation #12183429 by Cangarejo
- 夜晚，我返咗去 Tim Hortons 食咗我平時食嘅嘢：兩個薯餅同一杯燕麥奶冰咖啡，我應該，可能，返去食牛角包，有時有中國圈嘅客人，有個南亞嘅小販喺我屋企聽咗個 Psychics app 。 巴洛克等等。嗰日係2024年12月27號。In the evening, I returned to Tim Hortons to eat what was becoming my usual: two hash browns and an oat milk iced coffee. I should, maybe, go back to croissants, sometime. There were Sinospheric customers. There was a robust East Indian customer in a corner. One South Asian vendor commented, "Viktor is still like an embryo!" At home, I listened to a radio app on my tablet: Zouk Hits, Southeast Asia Psychedelics, Baroque, etc. It was the 27th of December of 2024.This sentence uses 南 in the context of South Asian.Tatoeba #13106162 by Davidgo5867, translation #12943140 by nonong
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a map together.
- 子健 Tsz Kin我哋而家面對住南邊。ngo5 dei6 ji4 gaan1 min6 dei3 zyu2 naam4 bin1.We are currently facing south.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung咁個車站喺我哋後面？gam3 go3 zik1 caam1 hai6 ngo5 dei6 hau6 min6?So the station is behind us?
- 子健 Tsz Kin係，車站喺北面。hai6, zik1 caam1 hai6 bak1 min6.Yes, the station is to the north.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung好，我哋轉身行向北邊。hou2, ngo5 dei6 zyun2 san1 haang4 heung3 bak1 bin1.Okay, let's turn around and walk north.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “south” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
