东 dōng east
How it came to be
The full form is a sack tied off at both ends with the load bulging in the middle; the two knots show in the oldest carvings. It was borrowed for the direction.
How it is used
- The compass direction east - 东方 (dōngfāng) the east, 东北 (dōngběi) northeast, 东部 (dōngbù) the eastern part.
- In the everyday word 东西 (dōngxi) 'thing/stuff', east+west together lost their directional sense - note the toneless 西.
- 房东 (fángdōng) means landlord; 东道主 (dōngdàozhǔ) is a host - old uses where 东 meant the host's side.
Characters built with 东
Words with 东
- 东西dōngxithingHSK 1
- 东北dōngběiNortheast ChinaHSK 3
- 东南dōngnánsoutheastHSK 3
- 东方dōngfāngeastHSK 3
- 房东fángdōnglandlordHSK 4
- 东部dōngbùthe eastHSK 4
- 东张西望dōngzhāng-xīwàngto look in all directions (idiom)HSK 7
- 东道主dōngdàozhǔhostHSK 7
- 东奔西走dōngbēn-xīzǒuto run this way and that (idiom)HSK 8
- 股东gǔdōngshareholderHSK 9
Example sentences
- 这条河向东流。 Zhè tiáo hé xiàng dōng liú.This river flows east.
- 广州是广东省的首府。 Guǎngzhōu shì Guǎngdōng Shěng de shǒufǔ.Guangzhou is the capital city of Guangdong province.
- 那是什么东西？ Nà shì shénme dōngxi?What's that?
- 我们在打包东西。 Wǒmen zài dǎbāo dōngxi.We're packing our stuff.