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西门 (xī mén) — west gate (of a city wall); a Chinese surname (Ximen, a rare double-character surname)

Definition

Literally 'west gate' — the western gate of a traditional walled Chinese city, used in historical or scenic contexts. It is also a rare two-character surname (Ximen), as in 西门庆.

noun
west gate (of a city wall)a Chinese surname (Ximen, a rare double-character surname)

Examples

  • 西门，。
    Wǒ men chuān guò xī mén, jìn rù gǔ chéng.
    We passed through the west gate and entered the ancient city.
  • 西门，。
    Tā xìng xī mén, shì yí gè hěn shǎo jiàn de xìng shì.
    His surname is Ximen, which is a very rare surname.
  • 西门。
    Gǔ chéng xī mén wài yǒu yì tiáo xiǎo hé.
    Outside the west gate of the ancient city, there is a small river.

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.

西xīwest
门méngate

西 (west) specifies which 门 (gate) is meant.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 西 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 門; 门 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 門 pictures a gate as two door shapes side by side; the simplified 门 is a later shorthand.

Open 门 →
Appears in
China — PlacesIdentity & Titles

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