Vietnam

    Yuenan in Mandarin Chinese, this word is
    originally of Chinese origin, and means
    "south of the beyond", or "south of theYue"
    (Yue was an old state in Zhou Dynasty
    China, c. 700-200 BC).  Nan (bottom
    character) means 'south', and is pronounced
    "nam" in southern Chinese dialects, hence,
    "Nam" for the modern country of Vietnam.
                 oshobob  The Living Workshop                                            
                                            Chinese characters in Zen