东街 (dōng jiē) — East Street (street name)

Definition

东街 is a directional street name meaning 'East Street.' Like 南街, 北街, it typically refers to a specific road named for its orientation, not a generic street. Use only as a proper noun in addresses or place references.

noun
East Street (street name)

Examples

  • 东街。
    Wǒ zhù zài dōng jiē.
    I live on East Street.
  • 东街。
    Wǎng dōng zǒu jiù shì dōng jiē.
    Go east and you'll reach East Street.
  • 东街。
    dōng jiē Shì yì tiáo hěn rè nao de jiē.
    East Street is a very lively street.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

东dōngeast
街jiēstreet

东 gives east and 街 gives street; together they name East Street.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 東; 东 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 東 originally drew a full bag tied at both ends. The simplified 东 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 东 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
行行xíng
Sound part声符shēngfú
圭
圭guī街jiē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

街 combines 行 and 圭: 行 is the meaning part, and 圭 is the sound part. Originally, 圭 drew a pair of ritual axes, not earth.

Open 街 →

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