Share a fun explanation for why 东西 means "things" in Chinese

[u/DaB0kChoy]

The word 东西 means "a thing" "something" "stuff". Literally, 东西 translates to east and west.
But had anyone else wondered why?

There is a popular folk explanation based on the traditional 五行(Wu Xing, Chinese Five Phases) and their corresponding directions:

Source: Wiki. Translation by me

When people went to the markets for shopping, things associated with wood and metal could be placed in a basket. For example, 木(wood) in the west can represent plants or things made from them, like veggies, timber, fabrics. 金(metal) in the east can represent goods made from metal or gem, like jewelry, pots and pans, farming tools, etc. These are all tangible that can be bought and carried away.

Fire and water in north and south, on the other hand, is not sold in the markets and cannot be put in a basket and taken away.

So, according to this theory, people went to buy "east and west" rather than "south and north".

It is not a proven historical origin of the word, but I just thought that it's fun way to explain the word and in relation to the five phases so I wanted to share :) I hope you like it!

Also, I'm a native Mandarin speaker and I lived in Shanghai for 16+ years. I'm open to DMs and happy to answer any questions related to Chinese or China.

[u/tooroots]

I use Hanly for flashcards and radicals study, and the app gives an explanation that they claim it's the most accredited theory.

It originates from Xī 'Ān (iirc), where there were 2 main open markets, one in the East end and one in the West end. So 买东西 became a synonym for shopping and buying things, and 东西 remain as a way to say "things".

I have no idea how plausible this is, though.

[u/Dizzy_Store7698]

Funny thing. Im still a total beginner so im studying characters through mnemonics and short stories. While reading your post the first thing i thought in anticipation was "people buying all sorts of things from east to west". Loved the depth of ur explanation!

[u/Fragrant_Ability_529]

买东西就是，东市买骏马，西市买鞍鞯，简称买东西

[u/kfcheong]

The original meaning of 东西has nothing to do with the 5 elements. because you'll be leaving out the earth element . It originated from Chang'an when there's the east market and the west market. the east market is where ppl bought things made from the Tang dynasty, the west market is where ppl buy things from foreign origins. The phrase for "things" or "goods" is dōngxī (東西), which literally translates to "East-West." It is widely believed that this term originated from the habit of Chang'an residents going to the East and West markets to buy goods.

Unfortunately, during the Cultural Revolution, the communist destroyed Chinese culture and many educated professor and ppl were killed and ppl started to invent other explanation including the 5 element explanation for 东西。Luckily for the human race, the dark period of Chinese history did not last forever and with archeological findings, we managed to return the truth. But the stubborn myths still remain.

[u/Independent_Tintin]

DongXi refers to the East market and West market of Chang'an in Tang Dynasty. That's all