look in all directions ⇒ 他东张西望，也没找到出租车。 Tā dōng zhāng xī wàng, yě méi zhǎo dào chūzūchē. → He looked in all directions, but couldn't find a taxi. ⇒ 考试时，不许东张西望。 Kǎoshì shí, bùxǔ dōng zhāng xī wàng. → During exams it is not permitted to look around.
东拉西扯
rambling ⇒ 你不要再东拉西扯了,快说正经事。 Nǐ bùyào zài dōng lā xī chě le, kuài shuō zhèngjingshì. → Stop rambling and get to the point.
东拼西凑
scrimp and save ⇒ 他就这样东拼西凑,硬把学费交上了。 Tā jiù zhèyàng dōng pīn xī còu, yìng bǎ xuéfèi jiāoshàng le. → This is how he scrimped and saved, and managed to pay for the school fees.
东跑西颠
rush around
声东击西
decoy tactics ⇒ 这位将军作战时善于声东击西。 Zhè wèi jiāngjūn zuòzhàn shí shànyú shēng dōng jī xī. → In war this general is excellent at decoy tactics.
东 ... 西 ...
⇒ 东倒西歪 dōng dǎo xī wāi → walk unsteadily ⇒ 他说话是东一句, 西一句。 Tā shuōhuà shì dōng yī jù, xī yī jù. → He talks incoherently.
English translation of '东西'
东西 (東西)
(dōngxī)
名
east and west
东西 (東西)
(dōngxi)
名
(= 物品) thing
⇒ 你把东西放在这儿吧。 (Nǐ bǎ dōngxi fàng zài zhèr ba.) Why don't you leave your things here.
⇒ 今天他买了不少东西。 (Jīntiān tā mǎile bùshǎo dōngxi.) He did quite a bit of shopping today.
(= 家伙)
⇒ 他这个小东西,真滑头! (Tā zhège xiǎo dōngxi, zhēn huátóu!) He's a slippery character!
(与‘什么'一词连用)
⇒ 我什么东西也看不见。 (Wǒ shénme dōngxi yě kànbujiàn.) I can't see anything.
⇒ 他在大学里没学到什么东西。 (Tā zài dàxué li méi xuédào shénme dōngxi.) He didn't learn anything at university.