东西/東西 dōngxi — thing, object, stuff

Meanings

1. 1

   thing, object, stuff

   A physical object or objects — goods, belongings, shopping. It does not cover abstract matters or events, which are 事 or 事情.

   noun

Example sentences

• 我买了很多东西。/我買了很多東西。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) mǎile (third tone, dipping) hěn (third tone, dipping) duō (first tone, high and level) dōngxi. (first tone, high and level)···

  I bought a lot of things.

• 这些东西是谁的？/這些東西是誰的？Zhèxiē (fourth tone, falling) dōngxi (first tone, high and level) shì (fourth tone, falling) shéi (second tone, rising) de? (neutral tone)···

  Whose things are these?

Common mistakes

• Not quitedōngxī

  Correctdōngxi

  With a neutral second syllable the word means "thing". Pronounced with two full tones, dōng xī, it reads literally as "east–west", the two compass directions.

Similar words