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西南 (せいなん, seinan) Japanese meaning: southwest | Kotomora

西せい南なん

also: にしみなみ

せ

い

な

ん

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

southwest

Refers to the direction or region of southwest. Used in geographic, navigational, and general contexts.

風かぜは西せい南なんから吹ふいている。
The wind is blowing from the southwest.

その町まちは市しの西せい南なん部ぶに位い置ちしている。

The town is located in the southwestern part of the city.

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉の西せい南なんに位い置ちするto be located to the southwest of a place
その村むらは都と市しの西せい南なんに位い置ちしている。
The village is located to the southwest of the city.
西せい南なんの風かぜa southwest wind
今日きょうは西せい南なんの風かぜが強つよく吹ふいている。
A strong southwest wind is blowing today.

Kanji

西west, Spain
南south

Related words

南なん西せいN1
南西 and 西南 both mean 'southwest', but 南西 is the standard term for compass directions in everyday Japanese, while 西南 tends to appear in place names, historical terms, and literary usage.

Opposites

北ほく東とうN1
北東 (northeast) is the direct compass opposite of 西南 (southwest).

Don't confuse with

西せい南なん西せい
西南 means the direction 'southwest', while 西南西 refers to the finer-grained direction 'west-southwest', one point further toward the west.

Word family

西せい南なん西せい
west-southwest
西せい南なん日本にほん
southwest Japan

Written forms

西南Usage99%
- せいなん
  Standard kanji spelling; the most common reading is せいなん.
- にしみなみ
  Rare alternate reading; せいなん is overwhelmingly more common.
せいなんUsage1%

Etymology

Compound of 西 (west) and 南 (south). The reading せいなん is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi, while にしみなみ is a rare native kun'yomi reading.

にしみなみ