东 (dōng) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 东 (dōng) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 东 (dōng) means "East". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 5 strokes and the radical 一.

Q: How do you write 东 stroke by stroke?

东 has 5 strokes. The radical is 一. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 东 and 万?

东 (dōng) and 万 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 东?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 一. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 东?

Common words containing 东 include: 东西 (dōng xī) — Thing / Stuff; 东方 (dōng fāng) — The East / Orient; 东北 (dōng běi) — Northeast.

How to Write 东

The character 东 (dōng) is written with 5 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 一 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

东 is pronounced dōng in Mandarin Chinese. It means East.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 东 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 东

东西 dōng xī

Thing / Stuff

东方 dōng fāng

The East / Orient

东北 dōng běi

Northeast

Example Sentences

我买东西。

wǒ mǎi dōng xī

I'm buying things.

太阳在东方。

tài yáng zài dōng fāng

The sun is in the east.

他去东北了。

tā qù dōng běi le

He went to the Northeast.

Similar Characters

万 wàn

丈 zhàng

三 sān

Practice Writing 东 (dōng)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 东 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 东

What does 东 (dōng) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 东 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 东 and 万?

What mistakes do learners make writing 东?

What common words use 东?

How to Write 东 (dōng)