Common Meanings
1
nán南
South; southern direction; the side to one's right when facing the morning sun; opposite to north; often referring to the southern part of a region, country, or the world, such as the South Pole or Southern Hemisphere.
我们去南方旅行，那里天气很暖和。
We are traveling to the south; the weather there is very warm.
2
nā南
Used in Buddhism as part of 'Nāmó' (南无), meaning 'homage to' or 'salutations to', expressing reverence or taking refuge in a Buddha or Bodhisattva. It is often prefixed to their names, such as 'Nāmó Āmítuófó' or 'Nāmó Guānshìyīn Púsà'.
信徒们双手合十，口诵‘南无阿弥陀佛’。
The believers put their palms together and chanted 'Nāmó Āmítuófó'.