naam4 gwok3南國南国
Jyutpingnaam4 gwok3
Yalenàahm gwok
Definition
The southern part of a country, especially referring to Southern China.
neutralplaces
How it's used
Refers specifically to the southern regions of China, often carrying a slightly poetic or literary nuance compared to simply saying 廣東 or 華南. It is rarely used in casual, everyday speech to describe a specific destination, as people usually name the province or city directly. You will encounter it more frequently in written descriptions, travelogues, or when emphasizing the cultural characteristics of the south.
Examples
He really likes traveling to Southern China.
Is the weather in Southern China very hot?
Related words
Common phrases
the charm of Southern China
Common mistake
Do not use this to refer to the country of South Africa, which is 南非, as 南國 is strictly geographical and cultural in a Chinese context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
