Save Type Settlement Usage Chinese Scripts 东莞(Chinese) 東莞(Traditional Chinese) Pronounced Pron. TUWNG-KWAHN [key·IPA] Meaning & History Means "eastern bulrushes" from Chinese 东 (dōng) meaning "east" and 莞 (guān) meaning "bulrush" (a type of plant; genus Schoenoplectus). This is the name of a city in China.