Chinese word

西南

Pronunciation

Pinyinxī nán

Meaning

  • nounsouthwest

Example

他来自中国的西南。tā lái zì zhōng guó de xī nán

He is from the southwest of China.

Illustration for 西南 (southwest)

More examples

这条铁路通往西南地区。zhè tiáo tiě lù tōng wǎng xī nán dì qū

This railway leads to the southwest region.

Core concept

A compass point that lies down and left from north on a usual map, also naming the region there.

Common phrases

  • 西南地区xī nán dì qū

    southwest region

  • 西南方向xī nán fāng xiàng

    southwest direction

  • 西南部xī nán bù

    southwestern part

Similar words

西南方xī nán fāng: The direction toward the southwest.
西南部xī nán bù: The southwestern part of a country or region.

Definition in Chinese

表示西方和南方之间的方位，即介于正西与正南之间的方向，也可用来指位于该方向的地区或地带。biǎo shì xī fāng hé nán fāng zhī jiān de fāng wèi jí jiè yú zhèng xī yǔ zhèng nán zhī jiān de fāng xiàng yě kě yòng lái zhǐ wèi yú gāi fāng xiàng de dì qū huò dì dài

Word origin

The compound 西南 (xīnán, "southwest") is formed from 西 (xī, "west") and 南 (nán, "south"), making its direction easy to read from its parts.

Usage tips

  • The first syllable in xīnán has a high, level tone and the second has a rising tone, so both tones remain clear in careful speech.

Opposites

Related words

  • 西南地区xī nán dì qūsouthwest regionnoun
  • 西南部xī nán bùsouthwestern partnoun
  • 西南风xī nán fēngsouthwest windnoun

Word lists with this word