仄 (zè) - oblique & slanting

仄Tone 4

zè ｜ 4 strokes ｜ radical: 人

悦丈

仄 · zè

oblique;

slanting;

narrow;

cramped;

uneasy;

one of the four tones in classical Chinese phonetics (the entering tone);

rare character with classical and poetic connotations.

obliqueslantingnarrow

Usage highlights

oblique tonesnarrow pathcramped dwellinguneasy feelingslanting lightentering tone character

Synonyms

  • 斜— slanting; oblique
  • 狭— narrow; cramped
  • 险— steep; dangerous

Antonyms

  • 平— level; flat; even
  • 宽— wide; broad
  • 坦— smooth; level

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The path was narrow and steep (仄径).
  • In classical poetry, the entering tone is one of the oblique tones (仄声).
  • He felt uneasy in the cramped space (仄陋).

Collocations

  • oblique tones(仄声)
  • narrow path(仄径)
  • cramped dwelling(仄室)
  • uneasy feeling(仄仄不安)
  • slanting light(仄光)
  • entering tone character(仄字)

Idioms

  • Level and oblique tones(平仄)
  • Narrow and cramped(仄仄)
  • Uneasy and restless(仄仄不安)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In classical Chinese poetry, 仄 refers to the three oblique tones (rising, departing, entering) as opposed to the level tone (平).
  • The character originally depicted a person leaning or slanting, conveying meanings of inclination and narrowness.
  • Used in classical texts to describe constrained spaces or uneasy psychological states.

FAQ