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东南 (dōng nán) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 3

东南 (dōng nán) is a Chinese word: southeast. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 东南

名 míng noun

southeast

我们向东南方向前进。

wǒ men xiàng dōng nán fāng xiàng qián jìn

We are proceeding in a southeast direction.

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Word breakdown

东 dōng — east

Words with this character (9)
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  • 6 东奔西走 dōng bēn xī zǒu — to rush about everywhere HSK 7
    • 东 east (representing one direction)
    • 奔 rush/run (conveys hurried movement)
    • 西 west (represents opposite direction)
    • 走 go/walk (emphasizes continuous movement)
    Example

    他为了找工作东奔西走了好几个月。

    tā wèi le zhǎo gōng zuò dōng bēn xī zǒu le hǎo jǐ gè yuè

    He rushed about everywhere for several months looking for work.

  • 7 东张西望 dōng zhāng xī wàng — look around in all directions HSK 7
    • 东 east (representing one direction)
    • 张 look, gaze (first looking action)
    • 西 west (representing opposite direction)
    • 望 gaze into distance (second looking action)
    Example

    他在人群中东张西望，好像在找人。

    tā zài rén qún zhōng dōng zhāng xī wàng hǎo xiàng zài zhǎo rén

    He looked around in all directions in the crowd, as if searching for someone.

  • 8 东道主 dōng dào zhǔ — host HSK 7
    • 东 east (from historical origin, now part of idiomatic expression for host)
    • 道 road (from historical 'eastern road', now part of idiomatic expression)
    • 主 master, host (the core meaning indicating the one who hosts)
    Example

    中国作为东道主欢迎各国代表参加会议。

    Zhōng guó zuò wéi dōng dào zhǔ huān yíng gè guó dài biǎo cān jiā huì yì

    China, as the host, welcomes representatives from various countries to attend the conference.

  • 9 股东 gǔ dōng — shareholder HSK 7
    • 股 share, stock
    • 东 owner, holder
    Example

    他是这家公司的大股东。

    tā shì zhè jiā gōng sī de dà gǔ dōng

    He is a major shareholder of this company.

南 nán — south

Words with this character (8)
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  • 6 南瓜 nán guā — pumpkin HSK 7
    • 南 south (indicating geographic origin or association)
    • 瓜 gourd, melon (the vegetable category)
    Example

    南瓜汤很好喝。

    nán guā tāng hěn hǎo hē

    Pumpkin soup is very delicious.

  • 7 南辕北辙 nán yuán běi zhé — to go south while heading north; self-contradictory HSK 7
    • 南 south; represents the direction of the carriage shafts
    • 辕 shafts; the poles attached to a cart or carriage
    • 北 north; represents the direction of the wheel tracks
    • 辙 wheel tracks; the marks left by wheels on the ground
    Example

    你想减肥却天天吃零食，这不是南辕北辙吗？

    nǐ xiǎng jiǎn féi què tiān tiān chī líng shí zhè bú shì nán yuán běi zhé ma

    You want to lose weight but eat snacks every day, isn't this self-contradictory?

  • 8 指南 zhǐ nán — guide HSK 7
    • 指 to point, to indicate direction
    • 南 south; navigation/direction (historical reference to compass)
    Example

    这本旅游指南很有用。

    zhè běn lǚ yóu zhǐ nán hěn yǒu yòng

    This travel guide is very useful.

Structure & writing
1 东 dōng — east (one of the four cardinal directions, the side where the sun rises, opposite of 'west')
东 is a component in 3 characters
HSK 5
冻 dòng to freeze (of a liquid or water-containing substance)
HSK 6
栋 dòng ridgepole or main beam of a house
HSK 7
陈 chén to place; to arrange; to display

东 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

2 南 nán — south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north)
南 is a component in 1 characters
HSK 5
献 xiàn to offer or present respectfully and solemnly

consists of

2.1 十 shí — ten (the number 9+1)
十 is a component in 29 characters
HSK 1
什 shén see "什么": ① interrogative pronoun; ② indefinite reference; ③ universal reference (used before 也/都); ④ surprise or dissatisfaction; ⑤ reproach; ⑥ disagreement; ⑦ non-exhaustive enumeration 卖 mài to sell; to exchange goods, skills, or labor for money (opposite of 买) 早 zǎo morning
HSK 2
妻 qī wife (opposite of 夫)
HSK 3
南 nán south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north) 直 zhí straight; not curved (opposite of 曲)
HSK 4
克 kè to be able to; can 博 bó abundant; plentiful 叶 yè leaf (of a plant) 戴 dài to wear or put on (something on the head or body) 支 zhī to prop up; to support
Show more HSK 4 characters (+7)
毕 bì to finish, to conclude 汁 zhī juice; liquid containing certain substances 章 zhāng a section or chapter of music, poetry, or prose 计 jì to calculate; to reckon 质 zhì fundamental nature of a thing 辛 xīn pungent; spicy 针 zhēn needle or pin (slender metal tool with a point and eye or hook, used for sewing or knitting)
HSK 5
华 huá referring to China 协 xié harmonious; in accord 古 gǔ ancient; of a bygone era, opposite of 'present' 盾 dùn shield (ancient protective weapon used in battle) 索 suǒ thick rope or chain
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
裁 cái to arrange and select (mostly used in literary arts)
HSK 6
德 dé morality; ethical standards and norms of conduct 截 jié to cut off; to sever (something long and slender)
HSK 7
卉 huì general term for various plants (esp. ornamental grasses and flowers) 卑 bēi low; lowly 嚏 tì (lit.) to sneeze
2.2 冂 jiōng — distant outskirts or open countryside
冂 is a component in 9 characters
HSK 1
两 liǎng two (used before measure words and 半, 千, 万, 亿) 再 zài twice; a second time 高 gāo tall; high (opposite of 'low')
HSK 2
周 zhōu periphery; circle 网 wǎng net (for catching fish, birds, or animals)
HSK 3
南 nán south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north)
HSK 4
内 nèi inside; interior (opposite of "外")
HSK 6
央 yāng to entreat; to beg 尚 shàng to revere; to value highly
2.3 丷 bā — divide/separate, the number eight
丷 is a component in 24 characters
HSK 1
关 guān to close; to shut 前 qián front; the direction one faces (opposite of 后) 半 bàn one half; half (used before the measure word when there is no whole number, or after when there is) 商 shāng to discuss, to consult with others 来 lái to come (toward the speaker), opposite of 去
HSK 2
旁 páng side; nearby
HSK 3
南 nán south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north) 平 píng flat; level; even (like the surface of still water) 总 zǒng to gather together, to assemble
HSK 4
产 chǎn to give birth 并 bìng to merge; to combine into one 幸 xìng happy; fortunate 首 shǒu head; skull
HSK 5
善 shàn kind; benevolent; charitable (opposite of 恶)
HSK 6
兼 jiān doubled; combining two portions into one 夹 jiā to clamp; to press from both sides to hold something in place 帝 dì supreme deity or ruler of the universe in religion or mythology
HSK 7
兑 duì exchange (old gold or silver items for new ones at a jewelry shop) 兽 shòu beast; mammal (generally referring to four-legged, fur-covered mammals) 凿 záo chisel (a hand tool with a blade for carving or boring) 啬 sè miserly, stingy with money or possessions 逆 nì to go in the opposite direction (opposite of 顺)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)
邃 suì deep and distant (of time or space) 隧 suì tunnel; underground or mountain passage
2.4 干 gān — shield (ancient weapon)
Xpinyin
干 is a component in 15 characters
HSK 1
午 wǔ the seventh of the twelve Earthly Branches
HSK 3
南 nán south (one of the four cardinal directions, opposite of north) 平 píng flat; level; even (like the surface of still water)
HSK 4
幸 xìng happy; fortunate 汗 hàn sweat; perspiration secreted by the skin 赶 gǎn to chase; to arrive in time
HSK 6
刊 kān to delete and revise 岸 àn shore; bank; coast (of a river, lake, sea, etc.) 旱 hàn drought; dry (opposite of 涝) 罕 hǎn rare; scarce 肝 gān liver (digestive organ in humans and higher animals)
HSK 7
凿 záo chisel (a hand tool with a blade for carving or boring) 奸 jiān hypocritical and cunning 杆 gǎn the slender, rod-like part of an object (including hollow ones) 竿 gān bamboo pole, the main stem of bamboo

Stroke order