东西
HSK 1 (exam 2025)HSK 1 (2021)Old HSK 1
东西 (dōngxi) · thing
东西 (dōngxi) means “thing; stuff”. It is written with 2 characters: 东 (east) + 西 (west). It is an HSK 1 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 东西 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)
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
- 冂 — frame
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)
Example sentences
我去商店买东西。Wǒ qù shāngdiàn mǎi dōngxi.I'm going to the shop to buy things.
这是什么东西？Zhè shì shénme dōngxi?What is this thing?
Questions about 东西
What does 东西 mean?
东西 (dōngxi) means “thing; stuff”.
How do you pronounce 东西?
东西 is pronounced dōngxi.
Which HSK level is 东西?
东西 is in HSK 1 (exam 2025) and HSK 1 (2021) and Old HSK 1.
Related words
- 东边dōngbianeast side
- 东北dōngběinortheast
- 东方dōngfāngthe east
- 东南dōngnánsoutheast
- 东部dōngbùthe east
- 房东fángdōnglandlord
- 东道主dōngdàozhǔhost
- 东张西望dōngzhāngxīwàngto look around
- 股东gǔdōngshareholder
- 东dōngeast
Learn 东西 with its group
It is part of HSK 1 (2021) · Group 9: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.