also: ひがしにし
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
east and west; east-west
Literal directional meaning; used in compounds like 東西南北 (the four cardinal directions) or to describe east-west orientation.
この道路は東西に走っている。
This road runs east-west.
東西南北の区別がつかない。
I can't tell east, west, north, and south apart.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
East and West; Orient and Occident
Refers to the Eastern and Western worlds, often in cultural, historical, or geopolitical contexts.
東西の文化交流は古くから行われてきた。
Cultural exchange between East and West has been going on since ancient times.
東西冷戦は長く続いた。
The East-West Cold War lasted a long time.
interjection
ladies and gentlemen!; your attention, please!
Only with reading とうざい
Abbreviation of 東西東西, a traditional street vendor's call to gather a crowd. Now mostly historical or used in period pieces; not used in modern everyday speech.
See also: 東西東西
「東西、東西」と声を張り上げて客を集めた。
He shouted 'Ladies and gentlemen, gather round!' to attract customers.