We want to talk about a question Caroline's students asked her this time.
In Chinese, to buy some things or stuff we’ll say 买东西(mǎidōngxi). The thing or stuff is 东西(dōngxi). But 东(dōng) and 西(xī) are also direction words in Chinese. 东(dōng) itself means east. 西(xī) means west.
Xuéxiào de xībian yǒu ge dìtiě zhàn.
学校的西边有个地铁站。
There is a subway station to the west of our school.
Chāoshì zài xuéxiào de dōngbian.
超市在学校的东边。
The supermarket is to the east of our school.
But 东西(dōngxi) doesn’t mean east and west.
东西(dōngxi) things
买东西(mǎidōngxi) to buy some things
吃东西(chīdōngxi) to eat something
Her students want to know why we say buy in east and west, why not buy in south and north?
Wèishénme shuō mǎi dōngxi, bú shì mǎi nánběi?
为什么说买东西，不是买南北？
Actually, I heard a story about this. It is said the word "东西 (dōng xi)" dates from Tang Dynasty, whose capital was "长安 (cháng ān)" which is 西安(xī’ān) now. Back to that time, residential areas and commercial areas were strictly separated, and there were walls between blocks. You can only buy things in the 2 markets located in the east and west of the city.The two markets are called 东市(dōngshì) the east market and 西市(xīshì) the west market.
I don’t know if it is true. But sounds reasonable. So now the word east and west or 东西(dōngxi) have the meaning of things. And in this word, 西(xī) should be neutral tone.
东西(dōngxi) not 东(dōng)西(xī)
东西(dōngxi) usually used for real objects or things. And 事情(shìqing) is abstract things, or matters.
Wǒ qù mǎi dōngxi, nǐ bāng wǒ kàn yíxia wǒ de dōngxi.
我去买东西，你帮我看一下我的东西。
I am going to buy some things. Can you watch my things for a second?
Wǒ jiā lǐ dōngxi tài duō le, bān jiā hěn máfan.
我家里东西太多了，搬家很麻烦。
I have too many things in my house. It’s hard to move houses.
Wǒ jīntiān hěn máng, yǒu hěn duō shìqing yào zuò.
我今天很忙，有很多事情要做。
I am very busy today, have a lot of things to do.
Zuótiān wǎnshang wǒ shuì bu zháo, yìzhí zài xiǎng shìqing.
昨天晚上我睡不着，一直在想事情。
I couldn't sleep last night. I've been thinking about many things.
Alright! Do you know how to use 东西(dōngxi) in Chinese?
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