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江南 (Jiāng nán) — the Jiangnan region, south of the lower Yangtze River

Definition

Proper name for the Jiangnan region — the area south of the lower Yangtze, known in Chinese culture for its water towns, gardens, and soft, rainy scenery.

noun
the Jiangnan regionsouth of the lower Yangtze River

Examples

  • 江南，。
    Jiāng nán De chūn tiān fēi cháng měi, hěn duō shī rén xiě guò tā.
    The spring in Jiangnan is very beautiful — many poets have written about it.
  • 江南，。
    Wǒ cóng xiǎo zài Jiāng nán zhǎng dà, hěn huái niàn nà lǐ de shuǐ xiāng.
    I grew up in Jiangnan and really miss the water towns there.
  • 江南。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng zhǎn xiàn le Jiāng nán dú tè de yuán lín wén huà.
    This film showcases the unique garden culture of Jiangnan.

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.

江jiāngriver
南nánsouth

江 names the river and 南 gives the south side, making the region south of the Yangtze.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng江jiāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

江 puts 氵, the water side, beside 工, which gives a sound; the water part points to its river meaning.

Open 江 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 南 →
Appears in
China — Places

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