西北

• Pinyin: xī běi
• Hanzi breakdown: 西 = pictograph of a bird's nest (west is where the sun sets and birds roost); 北 = two people back to back (originally meant 'back,' later 'north')

Meaning

Northwest. A cardinal direction referring to the area between west and north.

Used for geographical directions, regions, and locations. In China, 西北 commonly refers to the northwest region of the country, including provinces like Gansu, Xinjiang, and Qinghai. Also used in everyday directional speech.

Examples

1. 风从西北方向吹过来。 The wind is blowing from the northwest.
2. 中国的西北有很多沙漠。 There are many deserts in the northwest of China.
3. 我们学校在城市的西北边。 Our school is on the northwest side of the city.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, geography, travel

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 往西北方向走五分钟就到了。(Walk northwest for five minutes and you'll be there.)
• 西北风很冷。(The northwest wind is very cold.)

Don't Say

• 把西北和东北搞混 (Don't confuse 西北 northwest with 东北 northeast — 西 means west, 东 means east)

Origin & History

西 (xī, west) + 北 (běi, north). A straightforward compound of two directional characters.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal