西 Kanji: Meaning, Readings and Stroke Order

西: west; Occident. JLPT N5; 6 strokes.

Readings

On readings

セイ、サイ

Kun readings

にし

Romaji

sei, sai, nishi

Study notes

西 means 'west'; it appears in place names and terms indicating the West.

On readings: セイ in 西洋 (せいよう, the West), 西暦 (せいれき, year of the Christian era), 西部 (せいぶ, western part), 北西 (ほくせい, northwest), 大西洋 (たいせいよう, Atlantic Ocean). サイ in 関西 (かんさい, Kansai region) and in 東西 (とうざい, east and west).

Kun reading: にし, 'west': 西口 (にしぐち, west exit), 西日 (にしび, afternoon sun), 西日本 (にしにほん, western Japan).

Special readings: 西瓜 (すいか, watermelon) is read as a whole word.

Remember: 関東 (かんとう, Tokyo area) and 関西 (かんさい, Osaka and Kyoto area) are the two major regions that contrast in culture and dialects.

Example words

• 西口 (にしぐち) — west exit
• 西洋 (せいよう) — the West; Western world
• 東西 (とうざい) — east and west

Example sentences

西の空が赤いです。

nishi no sora ga akai desu.

The sky in the west is red.

Stroke order

Follow the steps in order. Each new stroke is highlighted.

Stroke paths: KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0. Sequential diagrams derived from the original paths.