About
The character "西" began as a pictographic representation of a bird settling into its nest, an image that naturally evoked the setting sun and thus became conceptually tied to the western direction. Its form evolved from a more illustrative depiction into a standardized, abstract shape, losing its direct avian references while retaining the foundational idea of a resting place. Structurally, it is now perceived as an indivisible unit, though its historical composition hinted at an enclosed space. The primary meaning transitioned from denoting the act of perching to firmly indicating the cardinal direction west, and subsequently, through broader cultural usage, it expanded to encompass objects, ideas, and regions associated with the west, reflecting a gradual semantic broadening alongside its graphical simplification.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我喜欢吃西瓜。
太阳从西边落下。
我们去西餐厅吃饭。
他穿了一套西服。
西红柿炒鸡蛋很好吃。
西部的风景非常美丽。
学习西方文化很有意义。
这家商店主要销售进口西药。