斜 (xié) - Slanting, oblique, inclined & to slope

斜Tone 2

xié ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

想信

斜 · xié

Slanting, oblique, inclined;

to slope;

diagonal;

tilted;

not straight or level.

Slanting, oblique, inclinedto slopediagonal

Usage highlights

Slanting lineSlanting towerSlanting glanceSlopeInclined planeDiagonal

Synonyms

  • 歪— crooked, askew
  • 倾— to incline, to lean
  • 偏— deviating, partial

Antonyms

  • 正— straight, upright, correct
  • 直— straight, direct
  • 平— level, flat

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The tower of Pisa is famously slanted (斜塔).
  • The sun's rays come in at an angle (斜射).
  • She gave him a sidelong glance (斜视).
  • The road slopes downward (斜坡).

Collocations

  • Slanting line(斜线)
  • Slanting tower(斜塔)
  • Slanting glance(斜视)
  • Slope(斜坡)
  • Inclined plane(斜面)
  • Diagonal(斜对角)

Idioms

  • Slanting wind and drizzle(斜风细雨)
  • Sunset glow(夕阳西斜)
  • A path winds through the mountains(山路逶斜)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese aesthetics, 'slanting' can convey natural, unrestrained beauty, as in 'slanting wind and drizzle' depicting a gentle scene.
  • In calligraphy, 'slanting' strokes are often used to create dynamic balance and movement.
  • The character appears in poetry to describe natural phenomena like setting sun or winding paths.

FAQ