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东西 (dōng xi) — thing, stuff

Definition

noun
thingstuff
Measure word · 个, 件

Examples

  • 东西。
    Zhè shì yí gè dōng xi.
    This is a thing.
  • 东西。
    Wǒ mǎi le yí gè hǎo dōng xi.
    I bought a nice thing.
  • 东西。
    Zhè ge dōng xi shì tā de.
    This thing is his.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

东dōngeast
西xīwest

The two direction characters are paired to suggest things from all around, hence a thing.

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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 西 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 1500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 11000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsMiscellaneous Objects2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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