西

xī

一 + 𠁤

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

xī (noun) west

xī (adjective) Western

Etymology

西 was written two different ways in ancient scripts: (1) a pictograph of a bird's nest, and (2) a variant of the phonetically similar 囟.

About

The character 西 (xī) originally had two distinct ancient forms: a pictograph of a bird's nest on a branch, and a variant of the phonetically similar 囟 (xìn). The nest image, evoking birds returning at dusk, associated it with the direction of the setting sun. Over time, the meaning "west" completely replaced any earlier senses, and now the character is used solely for the western direction, western regions, or concepts related to the West.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢吃西瓜。

Wǒ xǐhuān chī xīguā.

I like to eat watermelon.

太阳从西边落下。

Tàiyáng cóng xībiān luòxià.

The sun sets from the west.

我们去西餐厅吃饭。

Wǒmen qù xīcāntīng chīfàn.

We go to a Western restaurant to eat.

他穿了一套西服。

Tā chuānle yī tào xīfú.

He is wearing a suit.

西红柿炒鸡蛋很好吃。

Xīhóngshì chǎo jīdàn hěn hǎochī.

Stir-fried tomatoes and eggs are delicious.

西部的风景非常美丽。

Xībù de fēngjǐng fēicháng měilì.

The scenery in the west is very beautiful.

学习西方文化很有意义。

Xuéxí xīfāng wénhuà hěn yǒu yìyì.

Studying Western culture is very meaningful.

这家商店主要销售进口西药。

Zhè jiā shāngdiàn zhǔyào xiāoshòu jìnkǒu xīyào.

This store mainly sells imported Western medicine.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 一

Example Words