东方 dōng fāng
“east”
place word, locality word2021 list level 2Traditional 東方
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
东方 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 599: 东方 dōngfāng — Level 3; official annotation 3 (名). PDF page 94
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 东方
东方 is a noun meaning "the east" or "the East (the Orient)". It is more formal and literary than the everyday 东边, and is used for compass directions in writing, for Eastern culture/regions, and in names (e.g. 东方航空). It also exists as the two-character surname Dōngfāng, but as a common noun it is simply pronounced dōngfāng.
例句Example sentences
- 太阳从东方升起，新的一天开始了。tài yang cóng dōng fāng shēng qǐ, xīn de yì tiān kāi shǐ le.The sun rises in the east, and a new day begins.
- 他对东方文化很感兴趣。tā duì dōng fāng wén huà hěn gǎn xìng qù.He is very interested in Eastern culture.
- 这个城市在中国的东方。zhè ge chéng shì zài zhōng guó de dōng fāng.This city is in the east of China.
易混词Easily confused
东方vs东边
东边 is the everyday spoken word for "the east side", usually relative to a place (学校东边). 东方 is more formal/written and is used for compass directions in general or for "the East" as a cultural region.
义项All meanings
- Dōng fāng: the East; the Orient; two-character surname Dongfang
- dōng fāng: east