(dōng xī) - thing, object, stuff in Mandarin
dōngxīTraditional: 東西
Translation
thing, object, stuff
Word origin
The word 东西 literally combines 东 'east' and 西 'west', the two directions standing in for 'things' in general, possibly because goods were once fetched from the eastern and western markets. 东 (traditional 東) is often read as a bundle tied at both ends; 西 is traditionally seen as a bird settling in its nest at sunset, hence west.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 东 (dōng, east) + 西 (xī, west)
Stroke order
东
西
Examples
?
What is on the table?
。
This thing is mine.
?
What did you buy?
冰。
There is nothing much in the fridge.
。
I am going to the supermarket to buy a few things.
东西 (dōng xī) means thing, object, stuff. It is used as a noun in everyday Mandarin speech.
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(19)不知道在哪里
2 min read · Core 1000
点错了
2 min read · Core 1000
上班第一天
3 min read · Core 1000
生日的惊喜
3 min read · Core 1000
新邻居
3 min read · Core 1000
一起做饭
3 min read · Core 1000
早上的市场
3 min read · Core 1000
卖东西的地方
4 min read · Core 1000
错过的火车
5 min read · Core 5000
河不见了
5 min read · Core 5000
后面的字
5 min read · Core 5000
今天不开门
5 min read · Core 5000
看场合
5 min read · Core 1000
李明的旅行
5 min read · Core 5000
楼上的声音
5 min read · Core 5000
秦婷的钥匙
5 min read · Core 5000
三天
5 min read · Core 5000
有钱没时间
5 min read · Core 5000
中间的树
5 min read · Core 5000
Grammar articles
(6)Mandarin Four-Character Idioms (四字格): The Shape, Not the List
Mandarin Question Words: 什么 (shénme), 谁 (shéi), 哪 (nǎ) and Friends Stay Where the Answer Goes
Mandarin Rhetorical Questions: 难道, 不是...吗, 何必 and 岂不
Serial Verb Constructions in Mandarin: 我去商店买东西 and Stacking Verbs in Sequence
The Mandarin 所 (suǒ) Family: 所有, 所谓, 所 + Verb, and the 为...所 Passive
The Mandarin 者 (zhě) Suffix: 作者, 读者, 前者, and Naming the One Who Does It
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东西: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "东西" (thing, object, stuff): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 3.