Chinese character · HSK 1
西 (xī) — “west”
Originally a pictogram of a bird's nest. Since birds return to their nests at dusk when the sun sets, the character was borrowed to mean 'West'.
How to remember 西
At sunset in the West, the bird returns to its square nest under the branch.
Inside the character
- 西 (west) — meaning component. A bird returning to nest at sunset — often marks the west or appears as a sound piece.
Where 西 comes from
In oracle bone script, 西 was a drawing of a woven bird's nest. Because birds instinctively return to roost at sunset, the ancient Chinese used the nest symbol to represent the direction of the setting sun: West.
Words that use 西
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 西方 | Xī fāng | the West / the Occident | HSK 2 |
| 西瓜 | xī guā | watermelon | HSK 4 |
| 东西 | dōng xī | east and west | HSK 1 |
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More characters: 针 (zhēn, needle) · 问 (wèn, to ask) · 麦 (mài, wheat) — or browse the full character library.