dōng

east

Pictograph of a basket or a bag. The current meaning "east" is a phonetic loan. The simplified character was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character .

Evolution

东 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
东 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
东 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
东 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
东 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
东 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

dōng

east, eastern, eastward; east; host (i.e. sitting on east side of guest); landlord

() 

Dōng

surname Dong

Most common words with 东
Freq.
Word
Meaning

东西

thing

east

股东

shareholder

广东

Guangdong province (Kwangtung) in south China, short name 粵|粤[Yuè], capital Guangzhou 廣州|广州

山东

Shandong province (Shantung) in northeast China, abbr. 魯|鲁, capital 濟南|济南

Component uses

Sound component in 5 characters (0 verified)

Unknown component in 1 character (1 verified)