東 / 东
dung¹
In Cantonese, 'east' is expressed as 東 / 东 (dung¹). Wiktionary also lists 東方 / 东方.
Meaning: compass point (noun)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 東 / 东 | dung¹ |
| 東方 / 东方 |
The term is used to refer to the compass point.
Which one should you use?
東 / 东 is the standard term for the compass point, while 東方 / 东方 specifically refers to 'the direction of the east'.
How do you pronounce it?
dung¹
Did you know?
- The Cantonese idiom 東奔西走 literally means 'running east and west' and is used to describe someone who is incredibly busy or constantly traveling for work.
- In Feng Shui, which is deeply integrated into Cantonese culture, the east is considered the direction of health and family, often influencing where people place their beds or desks.
- The character 東 / 东 contains a structural evolution that some historians link to the shape of a wooden sun-dial or a wooden structure.
Example sentences for Cantonese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “east” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
