[dōng xi]

living things
有生命的東西

The patient hasn't eaten anything for two days.
病人兩天沒有吃東西了。

He is out doing some shopping.
他買東西去了。

Nothing is immutable.
一成不變的東西是沒有的。

A poor little thing [creature]!
可憐的小東西!

What a despicable creature [mean fellow]!
卑鄙的東西!

what are you anyway?
你是什么東西?

[dōng xī]

This district is three kilometres across from east to west and five kilometres from north to south.
這地方東西3公里， 南北5公里。