西 meaning and stroke order
West
How to write 西, stroke by stroke
6 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Meaning of 西
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- west
How 西 is built
Pictographic character. A bird settling into its nest, representing sunset; compare 東.
How to remember 西
The old picture behind 西 (xī) is a bird settling into its nest at sunset. Birds go home when the sun sets in the west, so picture the box 囗 as the nest with the bird tucked inside.
西 (xī) marks the direction west and appears in words like 西边 (xībian, west side), 西方 (xīfāng, the West) and 西餐 (xīcān, Western food). In Chinese, compound directions start with east or west, so northwest is 西北 (xīběi), not 北西. Example: 我家在学校西边。(Wǒ jiā zài xuéxiào xībian.) My home is west of the school.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 西 with 四 (sì, four), which has a similar box shape but no top bar sticking out and different strokes inside. Also note that 东西 read as dōngxi with a neutral tone means "thing, stuff," while dōngxī with a full first tone means "east and west."
Common words with 西
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 东西 | dōngxi | east and west | HSK 1 |
| 西边 | xībian | west; west side | HSK 1 |
| 西方 | xīfāng | the West; the Occident | HSK 2 |
| 西北 | xīběi | northwest | HSK 2 |
| 西南 | xīnán | southwest | HSK 2 |
| 西餐 | xīcān | Western-style food | HSK 2 |
| 西医 | xīyī | Western medicine; a doctor trained in Western medicine | HSK 2 |
| 西部 | xībù | western part | HSK 3 |
| 西瓜 | xīguā | watermelon | HSK 4 |
| 西装 | xīzhuāng | suit; Western-style clothes | HSK 5 |
| 西红柿 | xīhóngshì | tomato | HSK 5 |
| 西班牙语 | Xībānyáyǔ | Spanish language | HSK 6 |
| 东奔西走 | dōngbēn-xīzǒu | to run this way and that (idiom); to rush about busily; to bustle about | HSK 7-9 |
| 东张西望 | dōngzhāng-xīwàng | to look in all directions (idiom); to glance around | HSK 7-9 |
西 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 西
Learning 西 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 西
How many strokes are in 西?
西 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 西 mean?
西 (xī) means west. A common word with it is 东西 (dōngxi), meaning "east and west".
How do you pronounce 西?
西 is pronounced xī, in the first tone (high and level).
Is 西 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 西 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
Why does 东西 mean "thing" in Chinese?
东西 (dōngxi) literally combines east and west, but in everyday speech it means a thing or stuff, as in 买东西 (mǎi dōngxi, to go shopping). When it means "thing," the second syllable is said with a neutral tone.
Is 西 used in the names of foods or places?
Yes. 西瓜 (xīguā) means watermelon, and 西红柿 (xīhóngshì) means tomato. Many place names use it too, such as 西安 (Xī'ān) and 山西 (Shānxī).