东 dōng

The sun (日) rising through a tree (木), marking the sunrise direction.

East; the eastern direction or side. A stylized tree with a sun-streak rising through it—sunrise is in the east.

Common Usage & Traps

  • 东西 (dōngxi) — stuff, things
  • 东边 (dōngbian) — the east side, out east
  • 往东走 (wǎng dōng zǒu) — walk east, head east
  • 东和西 东西

    For 'stuff', 东西 is one fixed word. 东和西 only works when you literally mean east and west.

  • 超市在东 超市在东边

    Bare 东 is a direction, not a place. Add 边 to make it a spot you can point to.

Why does 东西 mean 'stuff' when it literally says 'east west'?

东西 is a fixed word for 'stuff'; don't read it as two directions.

东西 is a fixed word, and in daily Chinese it is the default word for 'stuff' or 'things'. Your friend says 我买了点东西, meaning 'I bought some stuff,' not 'I bought some east-west'. When you actually mean east and west, you say 东 and 西 separately, often as 东边 and 西边. The sound shifts: 东西 for 'stuff' is dōngxi with a light second syllable; directions get full tone.
DimensionNaturalAvoid
Stuff我买了点东西。我买了点东和西。
Directions东边和西边都有店。东西都有店。
Sounddōngxi (light second syllable)dōng xī (full tone)

Why does 超市在东 sound wrong for 'the supermarket is in the east'?

Bare 东 points a direction; add 边 to make it a place.

东 is a compass direction, not a place word by itself. To say where something is, use 东边 (dōngbian): 超市在东边. To say which way to go, bare 东 works after a verb like 往: 往东走. Think of 东 as an arrow, not a dot on the map. Add 边, and it becomes a dot you can stand in.
DimensionNaturalAvoid
Location超市在东边。超市在东。
Direction往东走。走东。
Place word东边有家店。东有家店。

Appears in Stories 16 stories

《成语0001:东山再起》 The Comeback: From Eastern Mountain to Success
HSK 7 ~5 min read 589 chars
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Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.

  • “ 东山再起 ”这个成语的本意是一个人失败以后或从高的地位落到低的地位以后,重新回到成功的位置。

  • 这个成语人人都会用,但是“ 东山 ”是什么意思,好多人不知道。

  • 故事发生在距离今天大约1700年的 东晋 时代。

  • 东晋 的朝廷一直希望他出来做官,服务天子。

  • 但谢安不想做官,多次拒绝了朝廷的邀请,就住在会稽的 东山 (今天的浙江省会稽山),和朋友一起游玩。

  • 朋友跟他开玩笑说:“你以前一直待在 东山 ,现在终于愿意出来重新开始了。”

  • 这就是“ 东山再起 ”的由来。

  • 最厉害的是,他在淝水之战中指挥 东晋 军队,以八万人打败了号称百万的前秦军队,保住了自己的国家。

  • 现在,我们用“ 东山再起 ”来形容一个人失败或退出后,通过努力又重新获得成功。

  • 比如,一个公司破产了,老板又重新创业赚钱,我们就可以说“他 东山再起 了”。

  • 当年乔布斯被踢出苹果公司,十年后,他又重回苹果,这件事也可以说“乔布斯 东山再起 了。”

  • 东山再起 是褒义词,而“死灰复燃”就是它的反义词,是一个贬义词。

《吃的东西和喝的东西》 Buying Food and Drinks
HSK 1 ~4 min read 305 chars
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This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.

  • 我很爱买 东西 。

  • 今天我正在一个商店买 东西 。

  • 我说,我正在买 东西 呢。

  • 你不要买太多 东西 。”

  • 我很不高兴:“我也在给你买 东西 。

  • 这个商店有很多 东西 ,有吃的 东西 也有喝的 东西 。

  • 我买了鸡蛋、面包、牛奶,还有一些水果,这些都是你和我的吃的和喝的 东西 ,还有给我们的小猫和小狗吃的 东西 。

  • 它们昨天就没有吃的 东西 了。

《大学者和小人物》 The Scholar and the Cookie Seller
HSK 5 ~8 min read 882 chars
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Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.

  • 胡之适说,他喜欢游泳,可是鼻子里长了一个 东西 ,水中呼吸不方便。

  • 元真告诉胡之适说,他的鼻子里也长了一个差不多的 东西 。

  • 他的一个朋友拿了一块饼干送到他的病房,跟他开玩笑:“我给你吃一样 东西 。

  • 这么好吃的 东西 ,我相信你没有吃过。”

《五个苹果三块钱》 Five Apples, Three Yuan
HSK 1 ~1 min read 57 chars
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Shopping for fruit is a common daily task in China. Practice saying prices, counting items, and using simple shopping phrases while buying five apples for three yuan.

  • 我很爱 买东西 。

  • 今天我在一个商店买 东西 。

《这样子好吗?》 The Clever Child Who Asked for More
HSK 2 ~3 min read 189 chars
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In this funny HSK 2 story, a boy asks his father for money every day. When his father tries to teach him a lesson, the boy's clever reply will make you laugh.

  • 钱学中喜欢吃,经常找爸妈要钱买 东西 吃。

  • 我想再去买点儿吃的 东西 “。

《饥饿的深意》 The Hidden Meaning of Hunger
HSK 7 ~11 min read 1243 chars
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Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.

  • 我问他您刚才饭桌上怎么不吃 东西 。

  • 结果第二天对方笑着砍了他五个点的价,一边还看着他眼睛说,看你昨天吃 东西 的样子就知道你这人没坏心眼,肯定没跟我们要高价,就便宜百分之五吧。

《你误会方便面了吗?》 Are Instant Noodles Misunderstood?
HSK 6 ~10 min read 1171 chars
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Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.

  • 误会一:方便面有毒很多人想当然认为,方便面保质期很长,不会坏,原因一定是因为里面“ 有东西 ”,有毒!

  • 就是说方便面里面基本没有水,所以就算在里面什么“ 东西 ”也不加,它也不会长毛变坏。

《这个苹果不是中国苹果》 Six Apples, Two Origins
HSK 1 ~1 min read 66 chars
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In this easy story, you will follow a simple trip to the supermarket to buy apples. Practice numbers, question words, and nationalities in a real-life shopping context.

  • 今天去超市买 东西 。

《问问题》 Asking Questions
HSK 1 ~2 min read 107 chars
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Before you read, think about the questions you ask every day. This simple poem shows you how to ask age, price, time, and more in friendly Chinese.

  • 买 东西 ,多少钱?

《很贵的苹果》 The Expensive Apples
HSK 1 ~2 min read 137 chars
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This short, simple story follows a shopper's trip to the supermarket to buy apples. You'll learn useful vocabulary for shopping, prices, and comparing things.

  • 今天白天的时候,我去我家这边的超市买 东西 。

《我们一家》 A Family Dinner at the Restaurant
HSK 2 ~6 min read 401 chars
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In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.

  • 这里的 山东菜 很好吃。

《森林大火》 Forest Fires and a Homesick Heart
HSK 4 ~4 min read 454 chars
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Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.

  • 他小时候住在中国的 东北 ,那里的森林也很多。

《七号桌的客人》 The Guest at Table Seven
HSK 1 ~5 min read 396 chars
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This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.

  • 老先生不喝茶,也不吃 东西 。

《是谁要去玩?》 A Hot Day at School
HSK 1 ~4 min read 261 chars
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Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.

  • 我和妈妈去那个商店买点喝的 东西 。

《慢还是快?》 Slow or Fast? A Language Learner's Debate
HSK 2 ~8 min read 593 chars
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Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.

  • 我还有太多要学习的 东西 。

《我想买电视》 The TV I Want
HSK 1 ~1 min read 41 chars
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Join a shopper on a quick trip to the store. You'll learn simple words for shopping and feelings in this easy-to-follow story.

  • 这个商店有很多 东西 。

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