Meanings & readings
Meanings & dictionary uses
2 senses · 4 wordsEast, a direction
A word element whose meaning depends on the compound
Languages & readings
Choose a recorded reading. Explore other varieties through their reference sources below.
Mandarin
Sense-linked readingsReadings & meanings
Usage scope
Regional and word-specific qualifications remain attached to the sense and vocabulary records.
Cantonese
Selected character readingSource & reading limitations
Jyutping · Unihan 17.0.0
This property supplies a customary character reading for collation and transliteration. It does not list every reading or identify the reading for each word and sense. It also does not encode a separate regional label for each value.
Other Chinese languages & varieties
Reference guides · character readings not yet imported.
Taiwanese Hokkien 臺灣台語Reference sources only
The Ministry of Education dictionary is the reference for Taiwanese vocabulary and readings. Its Tâi-lô guide distinguishes citation tones from changes in connected speech. Other Hokkien varieties require their own sources.
- Reference variety
- Taiwanese Hokkien, with the regional distinctions recorded by Taiwan's Ministry of Education
- Notation
- Tâi-lô (臺羅), as used by the linked MOE dictionary
Hakka 客語Reference sources only
Taiwan's Ministry of Education documents six Hakka varieties separately. Choose the variety before comparing readings; a single undifferentiated Hakka pronunciation would hide meaningful differences.
- Reference variety
- Taiwan: Sixian, Hailu, Dapu, Raoping, Zhao'an and Southern Sixian
- Notation
- Taiwan Hakka Romanization System (臺灣客語拼音方案)
Teochew 潮州話／潮汕話Reference sources only
Explore CUHK's published Chaozhou lexicon and its separate Shantou sound table. These reference locations remain explicit: readings from one locality should not stand in for every Teochew variety.
- Reference variety
- Chaozhou lexicon; separate Shantou syllable-table resource
- Notation
- Source phonetic transcription; no shared local romanization imported
Wu 吳語・上海話Reference sources only
The linked university resource documents Shanghai. Wu also includes other local varieties; Shanghai readings should retain that location label when compared with Mandarin or Cantonese.
- Reference variety
- Shanghai
- Notation
- Phonetic transcription and tone values in the linked CUHK table
Eastern Min 閩東語・福州話Reference sources only
Fuzhou is an Eastern Min reference variety. Its dedicated CUHK sound table offers a starting point; other Eastern Min localities need distinct records and source attribution.
- Reference variety
- Fuzhou
- Notation
- Phonetic transcription and tone values in the linked CUHK table
Gan 贛語・南昌話Reference sources only
Begin with CUHK's Nanchang sound table. The broader Gan group contains local differences, so future readings should identify Nanchang or another documented locality explicitly.
- Reference variety
- Nanchang
- Notation
- Phonetic transcription and tone values in the linked CUHK table
Xiang 湘語・長沙話Reference sources only
Begin with CUHK's Changsha sound table. Keep Changsha separate from other Xiang localities when adding readings; the group name does not denote one uniform pronunciation.
- Reference variety
- Changsha
- Notation
- Phonetic transcription and tone values in the linked CUHK table
Form & structure
Structure & components
0 direct parts- Layout
- single
- Index radical
- 一 · 1 · 4 residual strokes
This pilot treats 东 as one abbreviated modern shape. Identifying strokes inside it does not establish independent ancient components. Open 東 for the fuller form and its historical interpretation.
Follow the recorded parts
recorded boundaryA boundary means no finer analysis is published here; it does not assert an indivisible unit. Radical classification and component structure are separate.
Inspect the component network ↗Writing
5 strokesModern stroke order; regional conventions can differ. [47]
Words & connections
Examples
2 sentences太陽從東方升起。
太阳从东方升起。
The sun rises in the east.
我的東西都在這裡。
我的东西都在这里。
All my things are here.
Original editorial sentences. Pinyin uses dictionary tones; connected speech may differ.
Connections
0 phonetic neighboursThis pilot does not link this character to a sound (phonetic) family. Explore the other recorded relationships below.
History & distinctions
Etymology & evidence
1 accountsShared historical dossier
CUHK directs 东 to 東. Its early bag-like interpretation is discussed there. A sun-in-tree mnemonic is not adopted as historical evidence here.
Reading this character · explanatory note
东 is the simplified character for east. It appears in directions such as 东方 and 东北, and in 房东, landlord. The very common word 东西 needs particular attention: dōngxi means “thing” or “stuff,” while dōngxī refers to east and west. That difference belongs to the word and its pronunciation, not to a new character. Traditional writing uses 東. The linked 東 dossier investigates earlier writing and interpretations. The shortened shape 东 should not be dissected into a new ancient picture to explain its directional meaning. Learn its words first, then follow the historical evidence.
Historical specimens remain at their sources. No dated attestation sequence or licensed specimen image is claimed.
Inspect CUHK’s forms and discussion ↗Forms & distinctions
东方 → 東方; 东北 → 東北; 房东 → 房東; 东西 → 東西. The script change does not resolve the two pronunciations of 東西 / 东西: the intended word still determines whether 西 is xī or neutral-tone xi.
Traditional 東 and 車 can look similar to beginners, but they are separate characters. Simplified 东 corresponds to 東; 車 normally corresponds to 车.
Sources & reference
Sources & research
5 sourcesLocator & rights
Character entry; 形義通解, 繁簡對應, and cited Shuowen discussion where present · link_only · 2026-10-12
Locator & rights
Character entry; 形義通解, 繁簡對應, and cited Shuowen discussion where present · link_only · 2026-10-12
Locator & rights
Release 2026-10-12T08:13:53Z. Exact word-reading locators are retained with each WordRecord. · permitted · 2026-10-12
Locator & rights
17.0.0 · permitted · 2026-10-12
Locator & rights
bddc96d41bef78427ed0e034e9f7e31d71fd1b92 · permitted · 2026-10-12
Open research · 1 items
- No independent specialist review has been performed. Historical specimen images are linked at source; no image-reuse permission has been obtained.
Cited claims compared with the consulted entries; no independent expert review recorded.
Readings across dictionaries
- Xiandai Hanyu · 1983
- dōng 0257.020
- Tongyong Guifan · 2013
- dōng 078.030
- Reading counts · XDHYPLCD
- dōng(1601)