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以南 (yǐ nā) — south of (suffix attached to place names)

Definition

A directional suffix meaning 'south of' that attaches after a place name (e.g. 长江以南). Pair with 以东, 以西, 以北 for the other directions; the base place name is usually omitted in context.

suffix
south of (suffix attached to place names)

Examples

  • 以南。
    Cháng jiāng yǐ nā dì qū qì hòu wēn nuǎn.
    The area south of the Yangtze River has a warm climate.
  • 以南。
    Zhè zuò chéng shì wèi yú shěng jiè yǐ nā.
    This city is located south of the provincial border.
  • 以南。
    Chì dào yǐ nā de hǎi yáng miàn jī guǎng kuò.
    The ocean area south of the equator is vast.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

以yǐdirectional marker
南nánsouth

以 adds a directional sense, and 南 supplies south, giving south of.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 南 →
Appears in
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