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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "west" in Japanese?
西
nishi
In Japanese, "west" is 西 (nishi).
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Pronunciation
西 is written using kanji. Romanised as nishi, it sounds roughly like "nee-shee" to an English ear.
Writing and usage
Nishi (西) is one of the four cardinal directions. The kanji is straightforward and appears in place names like Nishi-Shinjuku and in weather terminology.
Example sentence
山は川の西に見えます。
Yama wa kawa no nishi ni miemasu.
The mountain is visible to the west of the river.
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How to remember 西
The right half of 西 looks like a gate or opening. Nishi marks the western regions where the sun sets.
Related words
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 西
How do you pronounce 西?
西 is romanised as nishi. Say it roughly like "nee-shee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.
Is 西 formal or casual?
西 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.
How is 西 written in Japanese?
西 is written using kanji. Nishi (西) is one of the four cardinal directions.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
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"West" in other languages
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