南
南 (nán) means “south”. It is made of 十 + 冂 + 丷 + 干 and has 9 strokes, and is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
Break 南 into its parts
What 南 is made of
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 丷 ha — kwukyel
- 丶 — dot
- 干 gàn — dry (gān)
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
Origin hint: A musical bell (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
南 stroke order
Example sentences
他是南方人。Tā shì nánfāng rén.He's from the south.
我家在学校南面。Wǒ jiā zài xuéxiào nánmiàn.My home is south of the school.
Words with 南
- 南边nánbiansouth side
- 东南dōngnánsoutheast
- 南方nánfāngthe south
- 西南xīnánsouthwest
- 南部nánbùsouthern part
- 南辕北辙nányuánběizhéto act in a way that defeats one's purpose
- 指南针zhǐnánzhēncompass
Also built with 十
- 什shénwhat? mixed
- 克kègram
- 千qiānthousand
- 升shēngto rise
- 华huáflowery
- 协xiéto assist
- 卑bēihumble
- 卖màito sell
- 博bóto gamble
- 古gǔancient
- 叶yèleaf
- 土tǔsoil
Quick facts
| Pinyin | nán |
|---|---|
| Meaning | south |
| Strokes | 9 |
| Radical | 十 (ten, #24) |
| Pattern | Top–bottom |
| HSK | HSK 3 (exam 2025) · HSK 1 (2021) · Old HSK 3 |
Questions about 南
What does 南 mean?
南 (nán) means “south”.
How many strokes does 南 have?
南 has 9 strokes.
What is the radical of 南?
The radical of 南 is 十 (shí, “ten”), Kangxi radical number 24.
What parts make up 南?
南 is made of 十 (ten) and 冂 (frame) and 丷 (kwukyel) and 干 (dry (gān)).
Which HSK level is 南?
南 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 1 (2021) and Old HSK 3.
Learn 南 with its group
It is part of HSK 1 (2021) · Group 26: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.