东北
dōngběi · HSK 2
Northeast China
🧭 东 (east) + 北 (north) = Northeast — the Dōngběi region
东 means east and 北 means north, so 东北 literally combines the two directions. In Chinese geography it refers specifically to the Northeast region (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning), historically known as Manchuria.
东 — sun 日 behind tree 木
Traditionally explained as the sun 日 rising behind a tree 木, pointing to the direction of sunrise — east. Modern paleography suggests the original graph depicted a bundle tied at both ends, and the 'sun-in-tree' reading is a later folk etymology, though it remains the standard mnemonic.
北 — two people 人 back-to-back
北 originally pictured two people standing back-to-back, meaning 'back' or 'to turn one's back on.' Because people in ancient China faced south, their backs pointed north, so 北 came to mean 'north.' The original 'back' sense was later written with 背 (adding 月/flesh).