surname Nan

JLPT N5 9 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character primarily means "south" and is used to indicate direction or location. It is also a common Chinese surname. When used as a direction, it often appears in compounds like (south side) or (southern area).

Common Collocations

  • (nánfāng): the south, southern region
  • (nánbiān): south side
  • (nánjí): the South Pole
  • (nánfēng): south wind

Usage Notes

When is used as a surname, it is typically followed by a title or a given name, e.g., 先生 (Mr. Nan). As a directional word, it can be combined with verbs of movement or location, such as (go south) or (walk south).

Common Confusions

Don't confuse (south) with (běi, north). They are often paired to describe opposite directions or regions. Also, when is a surname, it is a proper noun and should be capitalized in English contexts.

Register and Tone

is neutral in tone and register, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is a basic directional word and a common surname, so it appears frequently in daily conversation, news, and literature.

Example Sentences

We plan to travel to the south of China.

Mr. Nan is a new colleague at our company.

The sun rises from the east and moves toward the south.

The weather in the south is much warmer than in the north.

His surname is Nan; he is the class monitor.