Definitions
Etymology
Depicts a bell-shaped musical instrument. The current meaning of 南 is a phonetic loan.
About
The character "南" originally depicted a musical instrument, likely a bell or drum, in its earliest forms before being borrowed to represent the cardinal direction south due to phonetic association. Its modern structure, consistent across writing systems, is conventionally analyzed as comprising the components "十" and "冂", though this arrangement is a later orthographic standardization that obscures the initial pictographic design. The meaning transitioned fully from musical instrument to direction by the classical era, with "南" subsequently denoting south, southern regions, and orientations related to that direction.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
南方很暖和。
我家住在城南。
他一直往南走。
南方的水果很甜。
南京是座古老的城市。
这个房间窗户朝南。
海南岛的风景特别美。
南美洲有很多热带雨林。