东西

Mandarin

simpl.		东西
trad.		東西

Etymology

Literally, the two morphemes that compose this word mean east and west

Pronunciation

• IPA: [ tʊŋ˥˥ɕi˥˥ ] east and west

• audio (sense 2)

  (file)

• IPA: [ tʊŋ˥˥ɕi ] thing

Noun

东西 (simplified, Pinyin dōngxī, traditional 東西)

1. east and west, from east to west

Noun

东西 (simplified, Pinyin dōngxi, traditional 東西)

1. (Beginning Mandarin) something; thing

   我还有很多东西要学。

   wǒ hái yǒu hěn duō dōngxi yào xué

   I still have a lot (of stuff) to learn.

Usage notes

• Whilst dōngxi 东西 can mean thing in either a physical or abstract sense, shìqing 事情 only means thing in an abstract sense.

See also

• (Min Nan) 物件 (mi̍h-kiāⁿ) something; thing

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Min Nan

simpl.		东西
trad.		東西

Pronunciation

• IPA: [ taŋ˧˧sai˥˥ ]

Noun

东西 (simplified, POJ tang-sai, traditional 東西)

1. east and west, from east to west

Usage notes

• Unlike Mandarin, 东西 does not mean something or thing in Min Nan. Use 物件 (mi̍h-kiāⁿ) instead. For thing in the abstract sense, use 代志 (tāi-chì).