ZiMaster Dictionary My decks

Character

东

dōng HSK 1
东 dōng HSK 1
  • 1. east (one of the four cardinal directions, the side where the sun rises, opposite of 'west')
  • 2. host, master (in ancient times the host's position was on the east side, the guest's on the west)
  • 3. host who provides a feast or foots the bill (东道)
  • 4. a surname
  • 5. see '东乡族', an ethnic minority in China
  • 6. eastward, toward the east
Words using 东 as dōng (10)
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  • 6 房东 fáng dōng — landlord HSK 4
    • 房 house, property, dwelling
    • 东 owner, master (of property)
    Example

    房东每个月来收租金。

    fáng dōng měi gè yuè lái shōu zū jīn

    The landlord comes to collect rent every month.

  • 7 东奔西走 dōng bēn xī zǒu — to rush about everywhere HSK 7
    • 东 east (representing one direction)
    • 奔 rush/run (conveys hurried movement)
    • 西 west (represents opposite direction)
    • 走 go/walk (emphasizes continuous movement)
    Example

    他为了找工作东奔西走了好几个月。

    tā wèi le zhǎo gōng zuò dōng bēn xī zǒu le hǎo jǐ gè yuè

    He rushed about everywhere for several months looking for work.

  • 8 东张西望 dōng zhāng xī wàng — look around in all directions HSK 7
    • 东 east (representing one direction)
    • 张 look, gaze (first looking action)
    • 西 west (representing opposite direction)
    • 望 gaze into distance (second looking action)
    Example

    他在人群中东张西望，好像在找人。

    tā zài rén qún zhōng dōng zhāng xī wàng hǎo xiàng zài zhǎo rén

    He looked around in all directions in the crowd, as if searching for someone.

  • 9 东道主 dōng dào zhǔ — host HSK 7
    • 东 east (from historical origin, now part of idiomatic expression for host)
    • 道 road (from historical 'eastern road', now part of idiomatic expression)
    • 主 master, host (the core meaning indicating the one who hosts)
    Example

    中国作为东道主欢迎各国代表参加会议。

    Zhōng guó zuò wéi dōng dào zhǔ huān yíng gè guó dài biǎo cān jiā huì yì

    China, as the host, welcomes representatives from various countries to attend the conference.

  • 10 股东 gǔ dōng — shareholder HSK 7
    • 股 share, stock
    • 东 owner, holder
    Example

    他是这家公司的大股东。

    tā shì zhè jiā gōng sī de dà gǔ dōng

    He is a major shareholder of this company.

Structure & writing
东 dōng — east (one of the four cardinal directions, the side where the sun rises, opposite of 'west')
东 is a component in 3 characters
HSK 5
冻 dòng to freeze (of a liquid or water-containing substance)
HSK 6
栋 dòng ridgepole or main beam of a house
HSK 7
陈 chén to place; to arrange; to display

东 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order