Episode Details
Back to Episodes[HSK 3] 东西是什么东西 - What Does '东西' Mean?
Description
David notices that '东西' is made up of 'east' and 'west' and wonders why the word has its current meaning.
东西是什么东西 - What Does '东西' Mean? [HSK 3]Download the app here:
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Chinese Listening | 중국어 리스닝 | 中国語リスニング | Аудирование по китайскому языку | Nghe tiếng Trung | Mendengarkan bahasa Mandarin | Escucha en chino | การฟังภาษาจีน | Chinesisches Hören | Écoute du chinois | Ascolto cinese | Audição em chinês | चीनी सुनना | الاستماع إلى اللغة الصينية
《English Translation》
大卫: Teacher, I have a question. Why is '东西' made up of 'east' and 'west'?
刘娜: Oh? Why do you ask?
大卫: '东' means east and '西' means west, but '东西' can mean apples, books, phones...
刘娜: Good question! One explanation says that long ago, some cities had markets on both the east and west sides.
大卫: So people went to the markets in the east and west to buy things?
刘娜: Right. Some people say that later, the things people bought came to be called '东西'.
大卫: Oh, I see!
刘娜: But that's only one explanation. It may not actually be true.
大卫: Then can I say '买南北'?
刘娜: Of course not. You can only say '买东西'.
大卫: How does Chinese have so many interesting words!
刘娜: Yes. Keep learning slowly, and you'll discover many more.