竖 (shù) - vertical, upright, perpendicular & to erect, set up

竖Tone 4

shù ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

竖 · shù

vertical, upright, perpendicular;

to erect, set up;

also used to refer to servants or eunuchs in ancient times

vertical, upright, perpendicularto erect, set upalso used to refer to servants or eunuchs

Usage highlights

vertical linevertical writingto erect/set upto raise upvertical and horizontalvertical stroke in characters

Synonyms

  • 直— straight, vertical
  • 立— to stand, erect
  • 纵— vertical, longitudinal

Antonyms

  • 横— horizontal, crosswise
  • 卧— lying down, horizontal
  • 平— flat, level

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Draw a vertical line (竖线).
  • The flagpole stands upright (竖立).
  • He set up a signboard (竖起招牌).
  • Vertical writing in calligraphy (竖写).

Collocations

  • vertical line(竖线)
  • vertical writing(竖写)
  • to erect/set up(竖立)
  • to raise up(竖起)
  • vertical and horizontal(竖横)
  • vertical stroke in characters(竖笔)

Idioms

  • To raise one's hair in anger(怒发冲冠，发指眦竖)
  • Horizontal and vertical, in all directions(横七竖八)
  • To erect a monument(竖碑立传)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese calligraphy, the vertical stroke is one of the basic strokes and carries significant aesthetic importance.
  • Historically used to refer to servants or eunuchs in imperial courts, showing social hierarchy.
  • The character reflects the Chinese conceptual dichotomy between vertical (竖) and horizontal (横).

FAQ