南纬 (nán wěi) — southern latitude(s)

Definition

Geographic term for 'south latitude' — the angular distance south of the equator, used in coordinates (e.g. 南纬30度). Pairs with 北纬 ('north latitude'); together they specify location on a globe.

noun
southern latitude(s)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 南纬30。
    Zhè tiáo háng xiàn jīng guò nán wěi 30 dù.
    This route passes through 30° south latitude.
  • 南纬。
    nán wěi Dì qū de qì hòu tōng cháng bǐ jiào hán lěng.
    The climate in southern latitude regions is usually colder.
  • 南纬。
    Kē xué jiā zài nán wěi shēn chù fā xiàn le xīn de wù zhǒng.
    Scientists discovered new species deep in southern latitudes.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

南nánsouth
纬wěilatitude

南 marks the southern side, while 纬 refers to latitude.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 南 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 緯; 纬 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
韋
韋wéi緯wěi
Same sound today

The traditional form 緯 has 糸, thread, on the left and 韋 on the right for the sound. The simplified 纬 is a later shorthand.

Open 纬 →

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