东

• Pinyin: dōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 东 = simplified from 東, pictograph of the sun rising behind a tree — east

Meaning

East. One of the four cardinal directions.

Used as a directional word meaning east. Appears in many compounds: 东边 (east side), 东方 (the East/Orient), 东西 (things — literally east-west). Often used in location descriptions.

Examples

1. 太阳从东边出来。 The sun rises from the east.
2. 学校在我家的东边。 The school is to the east of my home.
3. 往东走就到了。 Go east and you'll be there.

Usage Guide

Context: direction, location

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请往东走。(Please go east.)
• 东边有一家商店。(There is a shop to the east.)

Don't Say

• 去东 alone as a complete direction (Too abrupt — say 往东走 or 去东边 for 'go east')

Origin & History

Simplified from 東. The original character depicted the sun rising behind a tree, symbolizing the east where the sun appears.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal