[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Abstract-Concepts \ #Time-and-Space # 西 xī west ## Components [[兀 wù]] [[囗 (weí)]] [[囗 (weí)]] ## Meaning Today, the character "西" (xī) primarily means "west" as a direction. It also retains its original meaning of "bird's nest" in certain contexts, but its usage in this sense is less common compared to its meaning as a direction. ## History The character "西" (xī) originally depicted a bird's nest in oracle bone script and bronze inscriptions. In the seal script, it resembled a bird perched on a nest. Its original meaning was "bird's nest." Birds return to their nests when the sun sets in the west, hence "西" was borrowed to refer to the western direction. As a radical, "西" is associated with meanings related to tools, support, and dependence. ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[西oracle.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[西bronze.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[西seal.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[西 cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[西 reg.svg]]