南 – JLPT N5 Kanji, Kanji for south | Meaning, Readings & Stroke Order

南

Strokes: 9

Meanings: south
Onyomi: ナ, ナン
Kunyomi: みなみ
Name Readings: なみ, は, みな, みまみ
JLPT: N5
Grade: 2
Frequency: -
Kanji Writing Practice: Practice

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Story

The kanji 南 was originally a picture of a kind of ancient musical instrument — a hanging frame used in ceremonies. Over time, this image was borrowed to represent the direction “south,” because ancient maps often placed the south at the top, where such instruments and rituals were performed under the sun. The south was seen as the direction of warmth, music, and sunlight — a bright and lively place.

Short Story

Once showing a ceremonial instrument used under the sun, 南 came to mean “south,” the warm, bright direction filled with sunlight.

Mnemonic

Picture yourself standing in the sunlight, hearing soft music carried by the warm southern breeze — that’s 南, the kanji for south, the direction of warmth and brightness.

Vocabulary Examples

Word	Reading	Meaning	Meta
南	みなみ	south	common JLPT-N5 Noun
南	ナン	south wind tile	Noun
南極	なんきょく	South Pole	common JLPT-N2 Noun
南米	なんべい	South America	common JLPT-N2 Noun
南北	なんぼく	north and south, north to south	common JLPT-N2 Noun
南瓜	かぼちゃ	pumpkin (Cucurbita sp.), squash	common Noun
南極大陸	なんきょくたいりく	Antarctica	Noun
南北戦争	なんぼくせんそう	American Civil War (1861-1865)	Noun
南部	なんぶ	southern part, the south (of a region)	common Noun
南東	なんとう	southeast	common Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

Showing up to 15 entries including the Kanji.

Example Sentences

Example #1

南の空に鳥が見えます。

みなみのそらにとりがみえます

minami no sora ni tori ga miemasu

I can see birds in the southern sky.

Example #2

日本の南に海があります。

にほんのみなみにうみがあります

nihon no minami ni umi ga arimasu

There is an ocean to the south of Japan.

Example #3

南の方へ行きたいです。

みなみのほうへいきたいです

minami no hou e ikitai desu

I want to go south.

Example #4

南風が強いです。

みなみかぜがつよいです

minamikaze ga tsuyoi desu

The south wind is strong.

Example #5

南の町に友だちがいます。

みなみのまちにともだちがいます

minami no machi ni tomodachi ga imasu

I have a friend in the southern town.

Example #6

南口で会いましょう。

みなみぐちであいましょう

minamiguchi de aimashou

Let’s meet at the south exit.

Example #7

南の海はとてもきれいです。

みなみのうみはとてもきれいです

minami no umi wa totemo kirei desu

The southern sea is very beautiful.

Example #8

この町は東京の南にあります。

このまちはとうきょうのみなみにあります

kono machi wa toukyou no minami ni arimasu

This town is south of Tokyo.

Example #9

南日本は暑いです。

みなみにほんはあついです

minaminihon wa atsui desu

Southern Japan is hot.

Example #10

南の空に太陽があります。

みなみのそらにたいようがあります

minami no sora ni taiyou ga arimasu

The sun is in the southern sky.

Example #11

南の島に行きました。

みなみのしまにいきました

minami no shima ni ikimashita

I went to a southern island.

Example #12

南から風が吹いています。

みなみからかぜがふいています

minami kara kaze ga fuite imasu

The wind is blowing from the south.

Example #13

南の国に旅行したいです。

みなみのくににりょこうしたいです

minami no kuni ni ryokou shitai desu

I want to travel to a southern country.

Example #14

南口の近くにコンビニがあります。

みなみぐちのちかくにこんびにがあります

minamiguchi no chikaku ni konbini ga arimasu

There’s a convenience store near the south exit.

Example #15

南の方があたたかいです。

みなみのほうがあたたかいです

minami no hou ga atatakai desu

It’s warmer in the south.

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Kanji Info

Kanji: 南

JLPT: n5

Strokes: 9

Grade: 2

Unicode: 5357

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