thing 東西 the Chinese slang word


Dear friends,

We are going to learn this specific Chinese slang word 東西(thing, something), it contains two characters: 東(east) and 西(west), yet it doesn't relate with the directions literally. In this video lesson we also combine the word 什麼(what) to form some sentences for instance. Please watch the following video for the lesson today:


The word:

thing, something

東西
dōng-xī

東(east) + 西(west)

It was told that the original source of this word was from Sung Dynasty (960-1279), the city 西安 Xi'an (長安 Chang'an, great capital in ancient China), there are East market and West market in the city, people need to collect all the goods/things completely from both of the markets.


The 1st phrase: (red color note is the pinyin pronunciation)

what thing
什麼東西
shén-me dōng-xī

什麼(what) + 東西(thing)


Let's extend the phrase to a sentence:

What is this thing?
這是什麼東西
Zhè shì shén-me dōng-xī

這是(this is) + 什麼(what) + 東西(thing)

the words:

this is
這是
zhè shì

what
什麼
shén-me

thing, something
東西
dōng-xī



Please check the analysis of characters of phrases and vocabulary of this lesson via my database site:
http://www.chinese-word.com/lessons/lesson-64.html


The 2nd phrase:

this thing

這個東西
zhè-ge dōng-xī


這個(this one) + 東西(thing)


Let's extend the phrase to a sentence:

What is this thing called?

這個東西叫做什麼
Zhè-ge dōng-xī jiào zuò shén-me

這個東西(this thing) + 叫做(is called) + 什麼(what)


the word:

called, named

叫做
jiào zuò

叫(call) + 做(as)

Please check the analysis of characters of phrases and vocabulary of this lesson via my database site:
http://www.chinese-word.com/lessons/lesson-64.html


The 3rd phrase:

looking for something
找什麼東西
zhǎo shén-me dōng-xī

找(look for) + 什麼東西(what thing)


Let's extend the phrase to a sentence:

What are you looking for?
你在找什麼東西
Nǐ zài zhǎo shén-me dōng-xī

你在(you are...) + 找(look for) + 什麼東西(what thing)

the words:

you are…(verb+ing)
你在
nǐ zài

look for
找
zhǎo

another extra sentence for 你在(you are…verb+ing) will be listed in my mp3 library:

What are you doing?
你在做什麼
Nǐ zài zuò shén-me

你在(you are...) + 做(do) + 什麼(what)

Please check the mp3 library for related phrases and sentences via my database site:
http://www.chinese-word.com/phrase/index.html


The 4th phrase:

missing something
缺什麼東西
quē shén-me dōng-xī

缺(missing) + 什麼東西(what thing)

the word:

missing, lack of something
缺
quē


Let's extend the phrase to a sentence:

What are you missing?
你還缺什麼東西
Nǐ hái quē shén-me dōng-xī

你(you) + 還(still) + 缺(missing) + 什麼東西(what thing)

the words:

you
你
nǐ

still
還
hái

About the word 還(still), it does not appear in the English translation, yet it's necessary for the Chinese sentence, to emphasize what thing are you "still" missing.


Please check the analysis of characters of phrases and vocabulary of this lesson via my database site:
http://www.chinese-word.com/lessons/lesson-64.html


That's all for the lesson this time. Thanks for reading my blog and please remember to subscribe my YouTube channel for encouragement.


聖誕快樂
Merry Christmas!


Regards,

Andres Leo

www.chinese-word.com
Chinese Words Database





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