东张西望 (dōngzhāngxīwàng) · to look around

东张西望 (dōngzhāngxīwàng) means “to look around; to glance about”. It is written with 4 characters: 东 (east) + 张 (measure word for flat things) + 西 (west) + 望 (to expect). It is an old HSK 6 word (HSK 2.0).

How 东张西望 is built

The characters

东 dōng · east

What 东 is made of

七qī — seven
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 乚 — hook stroke
小xiǎo — small
- 亅 — hook
- 八bā — eight

Origin hint: Simplified form of 東, the sun 日 rising behind a tree 木 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

张 zhāng · measure word for flat things

What 张 is made of

弓gōng — bow
长zhǎng — long
- 一 — horizontal stroke

Origin hint: 弓 gives the meaning, 长 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

西 xī · west

What 西 is made of

兀wù — weak
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 儿ér — child
  - 丿 — falling stroke
  - 乚 — hook stroke
囗wéi — enclosure
- 冂 — frame
  - 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke

Origin hint: A bird settling into its nest, representing sunset; compare 東 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

望 wàng · to expect

What 望 is made of

亡wáng — death
- 亠tóu — lid
  - 丶 — dot
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
月yuè — moon; month
- 冂 — frame
  - 丨 — vertical stroke
- 二 — two strokes
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
王wáng — king
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 土tǔ — earth
  - 十 — ten
  - 一 — horizontal stroke

Origin hint: A king 王 gazing at the moon 月; 亡 provides the pronunciation (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

Example sentences

他站在门口东张西望。Tā zhàn zài ménkǒu dōngzhāngxīwàng.He stood at the door looking around.

上课时不要东张西望。Shàngkè shí búyào dōngzhāngxīwàng.Don't look around during class.

Questions about 东张西望

What does 东张西望 mean?

东张西望 (dōngzhāngxīwàng) means “to look around; to glance about”.

How do you pronounce 东张西望?

东张西望 is pronounced dōngzhāngxīwàng.

Which HSK level is 东张西望?

东张西望 is in Old HSK 6.

Related words

Learn 东张西望 with its group

It is part of Old HSK 6 · Group 45: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

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