坐北朝南
zuò běi cháo nán
(of a building) to face south
Character by character
坐zuò
sit
sit
北běi
north
north
朝cháo
face
face
南nán
south
south
Example
爷爷挑房子只认一条：一定要坐北朝南，冬天屋里才有太阳。
Grandpa had only one rule when choosing a home: it must face south, so that the sun comes in during the winter.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
The building has its back to the north and its front to the south, which lets in the low winter sun and keeps out the north wind. Palaces, temples and courtyard houses were laid out this way, and estate agents still advertise it. You met it as a word in lesson 5-16; 朝 here is cháo, to face.
Learn this in Lesson 128 · HSK 7–9: 装修一套房 (Doing up a flat)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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