西 means “west”

にし · nishi

Also: Spain

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

にし

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

セイ, サイ, ス

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 2 · 6 strokes

The story

A bird settling into its nest as the sun sinks, the old pictograph for the direction of dusk. Kansai, 関西, "west of the barrier," is the proud homeland of Osaka and Kyoto.

Used in 関西 (kansai, the Kansai region), 西口 (nishiguchi, west exit), and 北西 (hokusei, northwest)

Words with 西

• 東西 (とうざい, touzai): east and west

More from Compass & Position

• 南 south
• 図 map
• 右 right
• 左 left
• 中 inside
• 後 behind
• 前 front
• 上 above
• 東 east
• 方 direction
• 外 outside
• 下 below

Learn 西 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.