西北
HSK 3 (exam 2025)HSK 2 (2021)
西北 (xīběi) · northwest
西北 (xīběi) means “northwest”. It is written with 2 characters: 西 (west) + 北 (north). It is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 西北 is built
The characters
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)
北 běi · north
What 北 is made of
- 匕bǐ — spoon
- 乚 — hook stroke
- 丿 — falling stroke
Origin hint: Two people 匕 sitting back-to-back; phonetic loan for "north" (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
他家在西北。Tā jiā zài xīběi.His home is in the northwest.
西北的冬天很冷。Xīběi de dōngtiān hěn lěng.Winters in the northwest are very cold.
Questions about 西北
What does 西北 mean?
西北 (xīběi) means “northwest”.
How do you pronounce 西北?
西北 is pronounced xīběi.
Which HSK level is 西北?
西北 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 2 (2021).
Related words
- 东西dōngxithing
- 西边xībiānwest side
- 西餐xīcānWestern food
- 西方xīfāngthe West
- 西南xīnánsouthwest
- 西医xīyīWestern medicine
- 西部xībùthe west
- 西瓜xīguāwatermelon
- 西红柿xīhóngshìtomato
- 东张西望dōngzhāngxīwàngto look around
Learn 西北 with its group
It is part of HSK 2 (2021) · Group 35: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.