斜

xié

余 + 斗

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

xié (adjective) slanting; tilted; oblique

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 斗 represents the meaning and 余 represents the sound.

Semantic: 斗 Phonetic: 余

About

The character 斜 is a phono-semantic compound where the right component 斗 (dǒu), a measuring dipper, provides the semantic category, and the left component 余 (yú) gives the phonetic sound. The dipper radical evokes the physical action of tilting a vessel to pour, which inherently involves a slanted position. This structural basis led to its core meaning: oblique, tilted, or awry, describing anything deviating from a strict horizontal or vertical axis. The character is commonly used for physical slopes, slanting terrain, angled rays of light, or anything leaning from a straight alignment.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

斜阳照着山坡。

xié yáng zhào zhe shān pō.

The setting sun shines on the hillside.

我家在书店的斜对面。

wǒ jiā zài shū diàn de xié duì miàn.

My house is diagonally opposite the bookstore.

这条线画得有点斜。

zhè tiáo xiàn huà dé yǒu diǎn xié.

This line is drawn a bit slanted.

他不敢斜视她的眼睛。

tā bù gǎn xié shì tā de yǎn jīng.

He didn't dare to glance sideways at her eyes.

小船在斜风细雨中前行。

xiǎo chuán zài xié fēng xì yǔ zhōng qián xíng.

The small boat moves forward in the slanting wind and fine rain.

他把相框斜挂在墙上。

tā bǎ xiàng kuàng xié guà zài qiáng shàng.

He hung the picture frame askew on the wall.

塔身因年代久远而微微倾斜。

tǎ shēn yīn nián dài jiǔ yuǎn ér wēi wēi qīng xié.

The tower body leans slightly due to its great age.

她斜倚在栏杆上，望着远方。

tā xié yǐ zài lán gān shàng, wàng zhe yuǎn fāng.

She leaned against the railing, gazing into the distance.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 余

Component: 斗

斜