在中国,东西由两个代表方位的汉字组成“东”和“西”。 这两个字放在一起,就是物品的意思。In China, the word ‘stuff’ _____ two characters _____ east and west. When you put east and west together you get a dongxi.
传说,有位博学的人遇事总喜欢问为什么。有一天,他在街上见一个朋友提着竹篮子正要去买东西。Long, long ago there was a ____ ancient scholar who like to ask why. One day he met a friend in the street who was _____ to buy some ____.
他疑惑为什么是买东西,而不是买南北。原来,我国古代把木代表东、金代表西、火代表南、水代表北。He ____ why he was buying dongxi, ____ south and north. It ____ that ancient China, wood _____ east, gold stands for west, fire stands for south, and water stands for north.
竹篮子可以装木和金,当然不能装火和水。所以,人们会说买东西,而不是买南北。原来,东西就是物品的代名词。We can put wood and gold, not fire and water into a bamboo basket. So, people say they buy dongxi ____south and north. Thus, dongxi ____ stuff.