KanjiSchool
西
西 (readings: せい, さい, にし; Japanese kanji) means “west”. It is a Grade 2 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 2 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 西洋 (the West).
What does 西 mean?
| Kanji | 西 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | west |
| Readings | せい, さい, にし |
| Grade | Grade 2 (Easy) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 西
西 is read せい or さい or にし depending on the word.
Example words with 西
| Example | 西洋 (the West) |
|---|
Practice writing 西 — free
See 西's stroke order, take a quiz, and add it to your spaced-repetition review. KanjiSchool teaches all 1,026 Kyōiku kanji through real stories and news.
Start free — no credit card →
Updated: 2026-07-14