Translation guide
The cardinal direction south. In Japanese, this is expressed with the noun 南 (みなみ) or the Sino-Japanese 南 (なん) in compounds. When giving directions or describing location, particles like に, へ, or の are used. For 'southern part/region', 南部 (なんぶ) is common.
Referring to the direction south in general, as a compass point or orientation.
The most common word for 'south' as a direction. Used in everyday speech.
この部屋は南向きです。
This room faces south.
風は南から吹いている。
The wind is blowing from the south.
Sino-Japanese reading used in compounds, formal contexts, or when giving compass points (e.g., 南北).
南北に長い国
a country that is long from north to south
Describing something located in the southern part of a region, or movement toward the south.
Used with verbs of existence or movement to indicate location in or direction toward the south.
駅は町の南にある。
The station is in the south of the town.
鳥が南に飛んでいった。
The birds flew south.
Attributive form meaning 'southern' or 'in the south'. Used to modify nouns.
南の島に行きたい。
I want to go to a southern island.
Means 'southern part' or 'south region'. More formal than 南の地域.
Used in place names, station names, or addresses to indicate south.
南 (みなみ) is the general direction, while 南部 (なんぶ) specifically refers to a southern region or area. For example, 'the south of France' is 南フランス (みなみフランス) or フランス南部 (フランスなんぶ).
For proper nouns like 'South America', the reading is usually なん: 南アメリカ (なんアメリカ) or 南米 (なんべい). Using みなみ here would sound unnatural.
日本の南は暖かい。
The south of Japan is warm.
この道を南に行ってください。
Go south on this road.
The southern part of Japan is warm.