Meaning of 东西

Meaning of 东西
Feb 11, 2011 03:48
SKYVIA Points: Join Date: Nov 22, 2010 Status: offline	"东西".. Since RS gives no definitions, I went with my gut on the meaning, and apparently was totally wrong according to any dictionary I've checked. The only sentence they give with this word is: 这只狗在吃东西。 It shows a picture of a dog eating dog food. Since at this point we've been given several items of food, I assumed it meant "dog food"... However, the dictionary disagrees (rightfully I'm sure)... It looks like in that context, it simply means "something", right? The most basic translation of 东西 ([dōngxī]) is "east and west"... Other definitions include: 1. thing; stuff 2. (referring to an animal) thing; creature 3. noun [Offensive] (refering to a person) thing, used as an insult So... was this RS's cute way of avoiding teaching the word for dog food by simply saying the dog is eating... something? And, more importantly, is this a word one would use regularly if you're referring to "stuff"?

Feb 11, 2011 03:48

SKYVIA
Points:
Join Date: Nov 22, 2010
Status: offline

"东西".. Since RS gives no definitions, I went with my gut on the meaning, and apparently was totally wrong according to any dictionary I've checked.

The only sentence they give with this word is:
这只狗在吃东西。
It shows a picture of a dog eating dog food. Since at this point we've been given several items of food, I assumed it meant "dog food"...

However, the dictionary disagrees (rightfully I'm sure)...
It looks like in that context, it simply means "something", right?

The most basic translation of 东西 ([dōngxī]) is "east and west"...
Other definitions include:
1. thing; stuff
2. (referring to an animal) thing; creature
3. noun [Offensive] (refering to a person) thing, used as an insult

So... was this RS's cute way of avoiding teaching the word for dog food by simply saying the dog is eating... something?

And, more importantly, is this a word one would use regularly if you're referring to "stuff"?

Feb 11, 2011 06:13

TEACHER_ZHANG
Points:
Join Date: Jan 12, 2011
Status: Offline

Are you a student who is learning Chinese?

basically, 东西 have three meanings.
1. means direction "east and west":
or "distance from east to west"

I think it is not difficult for you understand.

2. means "something", it can be "something to eat", " something to drink", "something to write" etc. the meaning is uncertain, but it has the exactly meaning in a sentence.

ex. 她在吃东西。 it means food, something for eating.

他在写东西。 He is writing something, maybe a report, maybe homework, maybe a story, we don't know exactly. It depends the situation and scence.

小军有一些东西要交给警察。Xiaojun has something to give to Police, we don't know what they are.

3. means someone or animals, people like or hate.

这个小东西真可爱。means you like it.
这东西还挺管用的。means you thing it is useful.

他不是个东西。means "hate"
这个老狐狸真不是东西！means he is "really bad".
他算什么东西！means he do something badly.

Feb 20, 2011 20:07	#2
SHIXIN1126 Points: Join Date: Feb 20, 2011 Status: Offline	So easy, 东西 means English word "stuff".

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