南(みなみ)

みなみ
noun
south
direction
1. south
The direction opposite to north, where the sun is at midday in the Northern Hemisphere.
南(みなみ)へ行(い)く。
To go south.
南(みなみ)は暖(あたた)かい。
The south is warm.
南口(みなみぐち)から出(で)てください。
Please exit from the south exit.
駅(えき)の南(みなみ)に大(おお)きい公園(こうえん)があります。
There's a big park south of the station.
日本(にほん)の南(みなみ)にある島(しま)は冬(ふゆ)でも暖(あたた)かいので、旅行(りょこう)に行(い)きたいです。
The islands in the south of Japan are warm even in winter, so I want to travel there.

南(みなみ) is one of the four cardinal directions.

Related words

Compounds

Cultural note

South-facing (南向(みなみむ)き) rooms are preferred in Japan for good sunlight, making them more desirable in housing.

Watch out

In compounds 南(みなみ) is often read なん: 南東(なんとう) (southeast), 南西(なんせい) (southwest), 南極(なんきょく) (Antarctica). Compass points put south first, as in English (南東(なんとう)), but 東南(とうなん)アジア (Southeast Asia) reverses the order.

Related Words

Related: 西(にし) (west)
Related: 東(ひがし) (east)
Related: 北(きた) (north)
Related: 方角(ほうがく) (direction)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:10 · Revised 2026.10.13 3:41
00500/00652_minami