南 nán
“south”
attributive, locality wordHSK 3 · 2021 list level 1
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
南 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 776: 南 nán — Level 3; official annotation 3 (名). PDF page 99
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 南
南 means "south" and is used as a direction word. It often comes before a noun, as in 南边, 南方, or 南门, or after 往/向 to show movement toward the south. For "the southern region," use 南方 rather than 南 alone.
例句Example sentences
- 我家在学校的南边。wǒ jiā zài xué xiào de nán biān.My home is south of the school.
- 火车一直往南开。huǒ chē yì zhí wǎng nán kāi.The train keeps going south.
- 南门旁边有一家书店。nán mén páng biān yǒu yì jiā shū diàn.There is a bookstore next to the south gate.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗南的天气很热。
✓南方的天气很热。
To talk about the southern region, use 南方, not 南 alone before 的.
-
✗他走南了。
✓他往南走了。
Direction words like 南 need 往 or 向 when showing movement toward a direction.
义项All meanings
- Nán: surname Nan
- nán: south