COMPONENTS & ETYMOLOGY
How 南 is built
Traditional etymology note: A musical bell
More “nan” characters →Link copied to clipboard!
How to Write 南 (nán) — Chinese Character Stroke Order, Meaning & Practice Sheet
surname Nan
nánTone 2 (Rising)Pitch goes up like asking ‘What?’
Loading stroke data…
Loading handwriting practice…
Save or share this character guide
Link copied to clipboard!
STROKE BY STROKE
Static stroke diagrams
Follow all 9 strokes in the correct order.
Download PDF
StrokeSheetCharacter Writing Worksheet
nán
南
surname Nan
Common words
dōng nán
东南
southeast
nán fāng
南方
south; southern China (areas to the south of the Yangtze River)
xī nán
西南
southwest
nán bù
南部
southern part
nán guā
南瓜
pumpkin
zhǐ nán
指南
to guide; guidebook
Follow the stroke order, then write it on your own.
南
南
南
南
南
南
南
南
LEARNING TIP
Remember 南
Say “nán” aloud as you replay the animation. Then hide the model and write the 9 strokes from memory. Short, repeated practice builds a stronger visual and motor connection.
Practice on CanvasWORDS WITH 南
Common words and phrases
dōng nán
southeast
nán fāng
south; southern China (areas to the south of the Yangtze River)
xī nán
southwest
nán bù
southern part
nán guā
pumpkin
zhǐ nán
to guide; guidebook
Frequently asked questions
How many strokes are in 南?
南 is written with 9 strokes.
What does 南 (nán) mean?
南 (nán) means surname Nan.
What is the radical of 南?
The radical of 南 is 十, associated with Not yet classified.