西（にし、nishi）
- west

The Japanese word 西 means "west" or "western". It refers to the direction on the compass opposite east. It can also be used figuratively to describe something that is in the west, from the west, or related to the west. It can also indicate the setting of the sun, as the sun sets in the west.

⚫︎ 西へ行く Translation: To go west. ⚫︎ 西の風 Translation: West wind. ⚫︎ 西欧 Translation: Western Europe.

⚫︎ Use 西 to indicate the direction west when giving directions. ⚫︎ Use 西 to describe locations or things that are in the western part of a place. ⚫︎ Use 西 to refer to the Western world, or cultures and countries of the West.

⚫︎ The kanji for 西 is 西. ⚫︎ The hiragana reading is にし. ⚫︎ It is rarely written in katakana. ⚫︎ The okurigana is not applicable for this word.

⚫︎ 西部 (せいぶ) - the west, western part ⚫︎ 西方 (せいほう) - the west, western direction

⚫︎ 東 (ひがし) - east

日本は西に海がある。 ・Translation: Japan has the sea to the west. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 西 to describe the location of the sea relative to Japan.

西日があたって暑い。 ・Translation: The setting sun is hitting and it's hot. ・Explanation: This sentence utilizes 西 to describe the direction of the sunlight, specifically from the setting sun.

The kanji 西 is a pictograph representing a bird's nest. Initially, the character had a broader meaning, related to enclosures and nests. Its association with "west" developed over time due to the sun's setting, and hence "nesting" or "going to rest" in the west.