西
west
xī
What does 西 mean?
西 (xī) is the noun 'west' — one of the four cardinal directions (东 east, 南 south, 西 west, 北 north). On its own, 西 is rarely used as a free word; it almost always combines: 西边 (xībiān, 'west side'), 西方 (xīfāng, 'the West / Western world'), 往西 (toward the west), 西门 (west gate). Learners should also know 西 appears in compounds tied to 'Western' as in non-Chinese: 西餐 (Western food), 西医 (Western medicine), 西装 (Western suit).
Geographically, 山西 and 陕西 are northern Chinese provinces; 西安 is a major historical city. One famous fixed phrase: 东西 (dōngxi, 'thing / stuff')
Character breakdown
west
Memory hook: 西 looks like a bird settling into its nest at sunset — and the sun sets in the west.
Example sentences
太阳从东边出来，从西边下去。
Tàiyáng cóng dōngbiān chūlái, cóng xībiān xiàqù.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
neutral
我家在学校的西边。
Wǒ jiā zài xuéxiào de xībiān.
My home is to the west of the school.
neutral
今天晚上我们吃西餐吧。
Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒmen chī xīcān ba.
Let's eat Western food tonight.
spoken
请往西走，前面就是地铁站。
Qǐng wǎng xī zǒu, qiánmiàn jiù shì dìtiě zhàn.
Please walk west; the subway station is right ahead.
spoken
他对西方文化很感兴趣。
Tā duì xīfāng wénhuà hěn gǎn xìngqù.
He's very interested in Western culture.
written
Common phrases with 西
Don't confuse 西 with
东西 (dōngxi, neutral tone on 西) means 'thing / stuff,' not 'east-west.' 我要买点东西 = 'I want to buy some things.' The directional sense 'east and west' is rare and would be pronounced dōngxī.