Kilo Lingo

(dōng xī) - thing, object, stuff in Mandarin

dōng

Traditional: 東西

Line drawing of 东西
Coloured illustration of 东西
HSK 1
#102 of 5,000 Core 1000

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

Stroke order for 东

Stroke order for 西

西

Examples

What is on the table?

This thing is mine.

What did you buy?

bīng

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

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Mandarin · Free printables

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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This word is part of lesson 3.