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东南 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
东南dōngnánsoutheastHSK 3, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #14356, Medium
dōngnán(dong1nan2) T1
  1. 1southeast
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March 24, 2026

东南(東南)dōngnán(dong1nan2)

The term '东南' (dōng nán) translates to 'southeast' in English, indicating a cardinal direction. It is commonly used in navigation, geography, and when giving or receiving directions. This term is often found in discussions related to weather patterns, travel, and regional characteristics.

Strokes14Frequency#14356DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, directions are often used in feng shui, where the southeast is considered a very auspicious direction for growth and prosperity, particularly in business contexts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a map where '东' (dōng) looks like a rising sun in the east and '南' (nán) is a person heading down a path. Picture a traveler setting their compass toward the southeast, where the sun rises and warmth lies ahead.

Meanings of 东南

dōngnán(dong1nan2)
1southeast
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About 东南

东南Simplified
東南Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 东南

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Podcast: 东南

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AI Study Notes for 东南

Usage Notes

'东南' is primarily used in geographical contexts and should be used in a neutral tone when describing locations. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar directional terms like '东北' (northeast) or '西南' (southwest). Ensure you use the correct tone when pronouncing the characters to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though '东南' is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it connects with other directional terms such as '东' (east), '西' (west), '南' (south), and '北' (north). Students should focus on mastering these basic directional words to enhance their understanding of spatial orientation in Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '东南' with '东南方' (dōng nán fāng), which is a more formal term for the southeast direction. It's important to use '东南' for casual references and '东南方' in more formal contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 东南

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Component Characters

东dōngeast
HSK 35 strokes一
View full entry
南nánsouth
HSK 39 strokes十
View full entry

How to say southeast in Chinese

“southeast” in Chinese is东南dōngnán

The term '东南' (dōng nán) translates to 'southeast' in English, indicating a cardinal direction. It is commonly used in navigation, geography, and when giving or receiving directions. This term is often found in discussions related to weather patterns, travel, and regional characteristics.

When to use 东南

'东南' is primarily used in geographical contexts and should be used in a neutral tone when describing locations. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar directional terms like '东北' (northeast) or '西南' (southwest). Ensure you use the correct tone when pronouncing the characters to avoid misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '东南' with '东南方' (dōng nán fāng), which is a more formal term for the southeast direction. It's important to use '东南' for casual references and '东南方' in more formal contexts.

Write 东南

东
南

Practice writing 东南 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 东南

Make sure to use the first tone for '东' (dōng) and the second tone for '南' (nán), emphasizing the rising intonation.

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