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道Nihongo Path
南

南·south

On-yomi
ナン
Kun-yomi
みなみ

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

9 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
南みなみsouth
南口みなみぐちsouth exit
南米なんべいSouth America
東南とうなんsoutheast

Example sentences

  1. わたしの部屋は南にあります。

    わたしのへやはみなみにあります。

    My room faces south.

  2. 南の国は暑いです。

    みなみのくにはあついです。

    Southern countries are hot.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 南口 as *なんぐち instead of みなみぐち

Memory aid

Picture it

Ten (十) plants growing inside a warm greenhouse: the sunny south side.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 南 mean?