西北

xīběi

noun HSK 2 #7,777

Meanings

风从西北方向吹来。

Fēng cóng xīběi fāngxiàng chuī lái.

The wind blows from the northwest.

中国西北有很多沙漠。

Zhōngguó xīběi yǒu hěnduō shāmò.

There are many deserts in Northwest China.

culture

Northwest China (西北) includes Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang — known for noodles, lamb, and the Silk Road.

grammar

Chinese compass directions combine in the opposite order from English: 西北 = west-north (northwest).

西 xī

北 běi