The four cardinal points of the compass in Chinese are expressed:
\{Toong, nen, si, pok}/ (東, 南, 西, 北) East, South, West, North. Thus
it will be seen that they do not follow the same order as we. North
East is \{Toong-pok}/ (東北), lit. East North. North West is \{Si-pok}/
(西北), lit. West North. South East is \{Toong-nen}/ (東南), and South
West is \{Si-nen}/ (西南).
The word \{pien}/ (邊) is generally added when direction or place is
indicated. Thus we have for the North \{Pok-pien}/, for the West
\{Si-pien}/. \{Pien}/ literally means “side,” and is a shortened form
of \{pien-deu}/ (邊頭).
In giving directions as to locality, the Chinese make very frequent
use of the points of the compass. If you wish a person to go towards
the North you say \{dzau pok}/ (朝北) “towards the North.”