Dictionary🇨🇳 Chinese → 🇺🇸 English
东西
dōngxi, dōngxī
Description
"东西"是一个很常用的词，可以指各种物品，比如吃的、用的、买的都叫东西。
"东西" is a very common word that can refer to various items, such as things to eat, use, or buy.
它也可以读作 dōngxī，指方向里的东边和西边。
It can also be pronounced dōngxī, meaning the east and west directions.
Meanings
东西dōngxi
thing; stuff; object
我要去买一些东西。
I want to go buy some things.
东西dōngxī
east and west (directions)
这条路是东西方向的。
This road runs east-west.
东西dōngxi
used to refer to a person or animal (often derogatory or affectionate)
这个小东西真可爱。
This little thing is really cute.
Related words
Notes
- Etymology
literally "east-west"; the everyday "thing" sense weakens the tone to dōngxi.
- Nuance
dōngxi (thing) vs dōngxī (directions) differ only in tone on 西.
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