南|みなみminami[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N5approx.Common
Definitions
  1. nounsouth
    フランスは英国えいこくの南みなみにある。↗
    France is to the south of England.
Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym南方なんぽうWrittenWritten or formal word for the southern direction or southern regions; before WWII it also referred specifically to Southeast Asia and the South Seas.
  • Synonym真南まみなみNeutralMeans exactly due south, with no deviation, as in 「真南に向く」; unlike 「南」, it is only for the precise direction, not the south side in general.
  • Antonym北きたNeutralThe opposite of 「南」: refers to north, the north side or northern regions.

Use 「南」 by default for south. Choose 「真南」 for the exact due-south direction and 「南方」 in written or formal prose, or when talking about southern regions (pre-WWII also Southeast Asia and the South Seas). 「北」 is its antonym, north.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. (みなみ)地球ちきゅう上じょうでは、太陽たいようの昇のぼる方角ほうがくを向むいて右みぎ。方位角ほういかく180°。その他たの天体てんたいでは、2つの極きょく(自転じてん軸じくと地表ちひょうとの交点こうてん)のうち、惑星わくせいについては、北極星ほっきょくせい(地球ちきゅうの自転じてん軸じくの北極ほっきょく側がわの延長えんちょう)から遠とおい方ほうの極きょくを南極なんきょくとし、また小惑星しょうわくせいや彗星すいせいは、自転じてんが右みぎまわり(時計回とけいまわり)に見みえる位置いちから見みて、手前てまえ側がわの極きょくを南極なんきょくとして、その天体てんたいの地表ちひょうにおいて南極なんきょくの方角ほうがくを南みなみとする。
  2. (みなみ)南方なんぽうの地ち。南国なんごく。
  3. (みなみ)日本人にほんじんの姓せいの一ひとつ。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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