东 A 西 B

here and there; this way and that

Structure

东 A 西 B （A、B：一对近义动词、同一个动词，或同一个数量词）

What it means

Here and there; this way and that. Not a compass: 东 and 西 mark action scattered in all directions, without plan or order.

How it is built

东 + A + 西 + B, with near-synonym verbs (东奔西走, 东张西望), one verb twice (东问西问) or one measure phrase twice: 他说话东一句西一句 (He talked in bits and pieces, never to the point).

When to use it

For scattered, disorderly activity; it often sounds a little disapproving: 东拼西凑 (cobble together), 东躲西藏 (hide here and there), 东抄西抄 (copy bits from everywhere).

Watch out

The order is fixed, 东 first, then 西: ✗ 西张东望 ✓ 东张西望. It describes scatter, not real east and west.

Examples

村里的年轻人东一个西一个，在全国各地务工。

The village’s young people are scattered here and there, working all over the country.

他说话东一句西一句，半天也没说到点子上。

He talked in bits and pieces, a sentence here and a sentence there, and never got to the point.

这篇文章是从网上东抄西抄拼起来的。

This essay was cobbled together from bits copied here and there online.

Learn this in Lesson 198 · HSK 7–9: 村委会选举 (Village elections)

A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.

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