(běi měi zhōu) - North America in Mandarin
běiměizhōuTraditional: 北美洲
Translation
North America
Stroke order
北
美
洲
Examples
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The USA and Canada are both in North America.
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Winters in North America can be very cold.
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Her family moved to North America.
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North America has many famous national parks.
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My sister is studying at university in North America.
北美洲 (Běiměizhōu) is North America, formed from 北 (běi), "north", 美 (měi), the transliteration syllable used for "America", and 洲 (zhōu), "continent". Say the three syllables together and the tones fall 3-3-1, so the first two dip low before the final syllable lifts back up.
It is often shortened in casual speech to just 北美 (Běiměi), dropping 洲 (zhōu) entirely, much as English speakers say "North America" without needing to add "continent" every time. Both forms are correct and mean the same thing.
美 (měi) is doing double duty in Mandarin: the same character opens 美国 (Měiguó), "the United States" (literally "beautiful country", the transliteration syllable chosen for its sound). Do not assume 北美洲 (Běiměizhōu) refers only to the USA; it covers the whole continent, Canada and Mexico included.
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北美洲: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "北美洲" (North America): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 109.