dōng东eastzhāng张lookxī西westwàng望look
To look around; to glance this way and that.
Literal meaning
east (东) — look (张) — west (西) — look (望)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase describing the action of looking around in different directions, often out of curiosity or suspicion.
Examples
tā他dōng东zhāng张xī西wàng望，hǎo好xiàng像zài在zhǎo找shén什me么dōng东xi西。
He looked around as if he was looking for something.
bù不yào要dōng东zhāng张xī西wàng望，zhuān专xīn心tīng听jiǎng讲。
Don't look around, concentrate on listening to the lecture.
Usage & nuances
Can imply curiosity, nervousness, or suspicion depending on the context.
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