How to write 东 (dōng, “east”)
东 (dōng), an HSK 1 character, means “east”, “host” and “landlord”. The traditional form is 東, 8 strokes instead of 5. Dictionaries list it under the radical 一 (“one”). On its own it is an HSK 3 word; it also forms 东西 (“thing”), 东北 (“northeast”) and 东南 (“southeast”). Japanese keeps the traditional 東, read tou (“east”).
- Pinyin
- dōng
- Strokes
- 5
- HSK
- 1
- Radical
- 一 (“one”)
- Traditional
- 東
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
As an overlapping character it splits into 七 (“seven”), strokes 1–2; 小 (“small”), strokes 3–5, written the first part first.
- top leftrightwards
- topdownwards → down and left → rightwards
- centerdownwards → up and left
- bottom leftdown and left
- bottom rightdown and right
Traditional form
- Simplified
- 东 · 5 strokes
- Traditional
- 東 · 8 strokes · see its strokes
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Pinyin and meaning
| Pinyin | Meanings | Traditional | In words |
|---|---|---|---|
| dōng first tone | east; host (i.e. sitting on east side of guest); landlord | 東 | 东西 东北 东南 东方 |
- HSK 2025 syllabus
- level 1
- 2021 standard
- level 1
- HSK 2.0
- in a level 1 word
- Words with it
- 81 in CC-CEDICT
Words with 东
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 东 東 | dōng | east; host HSK 3 |
| 东西 東西 | dōngxi | thing; stuff HSK 1 |
| 东北 東北 | dōngběi | northeast HSK 3 |
| 东南 東南 | dōngnán | southeast HSK 3 |
| 东方 東方 | dōngfāng | east HSK 3 |
| 房东 房東 | fángdōng | landlord HSK 4 |
| 东部 東部 | dōngbù | the east; eastern part HSK 4 |
| 东道主 東道主 | dōngdàozhǔ | host; official host HSK 7-9 |
| 东张西望 東張西望 | dōngzhāng-xīwàng | to look in all directions (idiom); to glance around HSK 7-9 |
| 股东 股東 | gǔdōng | shareholder; stockholder HSK 7-9 |
HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).
Practice sheet
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HSK 1, in list order: