斜

• Pinyin: xié
• Hanzi breakdown: 斜 = 余 (surplus) + 斗 (measure), suggesting tilting while pouring

Meaning

Slanted; tilted; diagonal; oblique. Not straight or perpendicular.

Describes anything at an angle rather than straight up-down or left-right. Used for physical objects (斜坡 slope), positions (斜着放 placed at an angle), directions (斜对面 diagonally opposite), and in mathematics (斜线 diagonal line).

Examples

1. 这幅画挂斜了，你帮我调整一下。 This painting is hung crooked, help me adjust it.
2. 她的字写得有点斜，不够端正。 Her handwriting is a bit slanted, not quite straight.
3. 书店就在斜对面，很容易找到。 The bookstore is diagonally across, very easy to find.

Usage Guide

Context: description, direction

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你把头斜过来一点。(Tilt your head a little to the side.)
• 这条路有点斜。(This road is a bit sloped.)

Don't Say

• 斜的直线 (Contradiction — 直线 means straight line; use 斜线 for a diagonal or slanted line)

Origin & History

Contains 余 (surplus) and 斗 (measuring cup), possibly relating to pouring at an angle.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal