Meaning and Usage
The character 斜 (xié) primarily describes something that is slanted, tilted, or inclined rather than straight or vertical. It is often used to describe physical objects like roofs, lines, or eyes when looking sideways.
Common Collocations
- 斜视 (xiéshì): to look askance or sideways, often implying suspicion or doubt.
- 斜坡 (xiépō): a slope or incline, commonly used in geography or construction.
- 斜线 (xiéxiàn): a diagonal line.
Usage Notes
斜 is mostly used as an adjective or adverb describing the angle or direction of something. It can describe both literal physical inclination and figurative meanings such as a sideways glance. When used with body parts like 眼睛 (eyes), it often implies a suspicious or sideways look.
Common Confusion
斜 should not be confused with 倾 (qīng), which also means to lean or incline but is more often used for larger scale tilting or metaphorical leaning. 斜 emphasizes the angle or direction more precisely.
Register and Tone
This character is neutral in tone and appropriate in both spoken and written Mandarin. It appears frequently in descriptive contexts and is common in everyday conversation and formal writing.