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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "south" in Japanese?
南
minami
In Japanese, "south" is 南 (minami).
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Pronunciation
南 is written using kanji. Romanised as minami, it sounds roughly like "mee-nah-mee" to an English ear.
Writing and usage
Minami (南) is one of the four cardinal directions and appears constantly in geography, weather reports, and place names. It is among the earliest kanji learners encounter.
Example sentence
お寺は町の南にあります。
Otera wa machi no minami ni arimasu.
The temple is to the south of town.
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How to remember 南
The two horizontal strokes in 南 can suggest a wide southern horizon. Minami marks the warm, southern regions of Japan.
Related words
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 南
How do you pronounce 南?
南 is romanised as minami. Say it roughly like "mee-nah-mee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.
Is 南 formal or casual?
南 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.
How is 南 written in Japanese?
南 is written using kanji. Minami (南) is one of the four cardinal directions and appears constantly in geography, weather reports, and place names.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
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"South" in other languages
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