Meaning
The kanji 斜 (ななめ, シャ) signifies 'oblique,' 'slant,' or 'diagonal.' It describes anything positioned at an angle, rather than perfectly straight, horizontal, or vertical. This applies to physical objects, lines, and even abstract ideas like a 'slanting opinion' or a 'declining era.'
The character is a phono-semantic compound (形声字), combining the radical 斗 (と, とう), which means 'ladle' or 'dipper,' with the phonetic component 余 (よ, あま), meaning 'superfluous' or 'excess.' Historically, this combination suggests something 'excessively' (余) or 'superfluously' out of its proper straight alignment, much like a dipper (斗) that is tilted. Imagine a dipper held so it's not upright or level, creating an 'oblique' angle. This visual connection helps reinforce the core meaning of leaning or being askew.
斜 has 11 strokes and is an N1 level kanji. This means it's typically encountered in advanced Japanese texts and is not part of the elementary school kanji curriculum, so it has no assigned school grade level.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi readings for 斜 are derived from its original Chinese pronunciation. For 斜, the primary On'yomi is シャ (SHA).
シャ (SHA): This is the most common On'yomi. It's used in many compound words related to angles, slopes, and abstract notions of obliqueness or decline. シャ often emphasizes a formal or technical sense of 'slant' or 'diagonal.'
斜面 (shamen) — slope, inclined surface. This term is frequently used in geology, engineering, and sports. For example, a ski 斜面 (ski slope).
傾斜 (keisha) — inclination, slant, gradient. Often describes the degree of a slope, such as the 傾斜 of a roof or a road.
斜視 (shashi) — squint, strabismus. A medical term for eyes that do not look in the same direction.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi readings are native Japanese pronunciations assigned to the kanji, reflecting existing Japanese words with similar meanings.
ななめ (naname): This is a very common Kun'yomi, used to describe something diagonal, slanting, or askew in everyday contexts. It often functions as an adjective or adverb.
斜め (naname) — diagonal, slant, askew. For instance, a picture hanging 斜め on the wall.
斜めに (naname ni) — diagonally, slantingly. Used adverbially to describe an action or state. You might cut something 斜めに (diagonally).
斜め読み (nanameyomi) — skimming (reading diagonally). This refers to quickly glancing over text to grasp the main points, rather than reading word-for-word.
はす (hasu): This reading is less common than ななめ but appears in specific compounds. It often describes something 'oblique' or 'at an angle,' particularly in relation to position.
はす向かい (hasumukai) — diagonally opposite. Describes a position across from another, but at an angle, not directly. For example, a shop はす向かい from a park.
はす切り (hasugiri) — diagonal cut. A term used in cooking or crafting to describe cutting something at an angle, like ネギをはす切りにする (cutting green onions diagonally).
Common Words & Compounds
Here are various words and compounds using the kanji 斜, grouped by theme to aid understanding and memorization.
Geometric & Directional Terms:
傾斜 (keisha) — inclination, slant, slope. This word is fundamental for describing any form of gradient.
斜線 (shasen) — diagonal line, slash. Commonly seen in mathematics, art, or even text formatting (e.g., a forward slash '/').
斜め (naname) — diagonal, slant, askew. A versatile word for everyday use.
斜度 (shado) — angle of slope, gradient. Often used in technical or scientific contexts, like measuring the 斜度 of a mountain road.
Action & Observation:
斜めに (naname ni) — diagonally, slantingly, askew. Describes how something is done or oriented.
斜視 (shashi) — squint, strabismus. A specific medical condition related to eye alignment.
斜め読み (nanameyomi) — skimming (reading diagonally). A common study or reading technique to get the gist of a text quickly.
Abstract & Figurative Use:
斜陽 (shayou) — setting sun; declining power/prosperity. This beautifully illustrates the kanji's metaphorical use, where the 'slanting sun' represents something nearing its end, like the 斜陽産業 (declining industry).
斜に構える (shanikamaeru) — to assume a cynical or defiant attitude; to be guarded. Here, '斜' implies taking an indirect or angled stance, not facing something head-on.
Specific Objects & Structures:
斜面鉄道 (shamen tetsudō) — funicular railway. A railway specifically designed for steep slopes.
斜張橋 (shachōkyō) — cable-stayed bridge. A type of bridge where the deck is supported by cables running from towers, such as the 横浜ベイブリッジ (Yokohama Bay Bridge).
Example Sentences
その絵は壁に斜めに掛かっていたので、直しました。
Sono e wa kabe ni naname ni kakatteita node, naoshimashita.
The painting was hanging diagonally on the wall, so I straightened it.
この坂は傾斜が急なので、自転車で上るのは大変です。
Kono saka wa keisha ga kyū nanode, jitensha de noboru no wa taihen desu.
Since this hill has a steep incline, climbing it by bicycle is difficult.
記事の大意を掴むために、まずは斜め読みをしてみましょう。
Kiji no taii o tsukamu tame ni, mazu wa nanameyomi o shite mimashō.
To grasp the main idea of the article, let's try skimming it first.
彼女はいつも物事を斜から見るので、面白いです。
Kanojo wa itsumo monogoto o naname kara miru node, omoshiroi desu.
She always looks at things from an unconventional perspective, which is interesting.
太陽が西に傾き、建物に長い斜陽が差していました。
Taiyō ga nishi ni katamuki, tatemono ni nagai shayō ga sashite imashita.
The sun tilted to the west, casting long, slanting rays on the building.
地図で見ると、あの店は公園のはす向かいにあります。
Chizu de miru to, ano mise wa kōen no hasumukai ni arimasu.
Looking at the map, that store is diagonally opposite the park.
雪山の急な斜面をスキーで滑り降りるのは、とても爽快です。
Yukiyama no kyū na shamen o sukī de suberioriru no wa, totemo sōkai desu.
Skiing down the steep slope of a snowy mountain is very exhilarating.
書類に斜線を引いて、この項目は無効であることを示しました。
Shorui ni shasen o hiite, kono kōmoku wa mukō de aru koto o shimashimashita.
I drew a diagonal line through the document to indicate that this item is invalid.
その木は風に吹かれて斜めに成長していました。
Sono ki wa kaze ni fukarete naname ni seichō shite imashita.
That tree grew diagonally, having been blown by the wind.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 斜, focus on its components: 余 (yo, amaru - surplus, extra, remainder) and 斗 (to, tou - dipper, ladle). Visualize a 'dipper' (斗) filled with a 'surplus' (余) amount of liquid. This 'excess' causes the dipper to tip and become 'oblique' or 'slanting.' Alternatively, imagine an 'extra' (余) dipper (斗) lying on a table, not straight, but 'slanted' off to the side. The key is to connect the idea of an 'extra' or 'excessive' lean of a 'dipper' to the meaning of 'slant' or 'diagonal.'