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南米 (なんべい, nanbei) Japanese meaning: South America | Kotomora

南なん米べい

な

ん

べ

い

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

South America

Common abbreviation for 南アメリカ, used in news, geography, and daily conversation.

See also: 南アメリカ

来らい年ねん、南なん米べいを旅りょ行こうする予よ定ていです。

I plan to travel to South America next year.

南なん米べいの国くに々ぐにではスペイン語ごが広ひろく話はなされている。

Spanish is widely spoken in South American countries.

Kanji

南south
米rice, USA, metre

Related words

南みなみアメリカN3
南米 is the common everyday abbreviation, while 南アメリカ is the fuller, slightly more formal or explicit form used in official or written contexts.

Opposites

北ほく米べい
南米 refers to South America, while 北米 refers to North America, its geographic counterpart.

Don't confuse with

中ちゅう南なん米べいN3
南米 refers only to South America, while 中南米 additionally includes Central America, so learners often mix up how much territory each term covers.

Etymology

Abbreviation of 南アメリカ (South America), using the kanji 南 (south) and 米 from 亜米利加 (America).