Meaning
The kanji 傾 (ケイ, かたむく) represents the core ideas of 'leaning,' 'inclining,' and 'tilting.' Beyond physical movement, it also metaphorically refers to 'tendency,' 'waning' (like the setting sun), 'sinking,' 'ruin,' and 'bias.' This character isn't just about physical displacement; it also describes abstract shifts in direction, attitude, or fortune. Its visual structure clearly connects to its meaning, serving as a prime example of a phono-semantic compound.
Understanding the etymology of 傾 reveals its origins. It's built from two components: the semantic radical 人 (ひとやね / にんべん), meaning 'person,' and the phonetic component 頃 (ころ / ケイ). Historically, 頃 itself suggested 'tilting' or 'a short period of time,' often depicting a person with a tilted head. When 人 is combined with 頃, the kanji emphasizes a person's act of leaning or causing something to lean. This pairing vividly illustrates the physical act of tilting—for example, how someone might lean their body or an object, or how an event could trigger a shift or decline.
With 13 strokes, 傾 is a Jōyō Kanji. Students typically encounter it at a secondary school level, making it essential for JLPT N2 proficiency.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi reading for 傾 is ケイ (kei). You'll mostly find this reading in compound words, where it conveys ideas like inclination, tendency, concentration, or even broad societal shifts. As a formal reading, it typically appears in more abstract or technical contexts.
- 傾向 (keikou) — tendency; trend; inclination. This word frequently describes a general direction or characteristic, such as an economic trend.
- 傾斜 (keisha) — inclination; slant; slope; bevel. Use this to describe physical angles (e.g., a mountain slope) or metaphorical biases (e.g., a political leaning).
- 傾注 (keichuu) — devotion; concentration; dedication (especially of energy or effort). This implies 'pouring one's attention' or 'leaning into' a task with full focus, like devoting oneself to a hobby.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi readings of 傾 are more numerous, describing various actions of leaning or tilting through native Japanese verbs. These readings often highlight whether the leaning is active or passive.
かたむ.く (katamuku) — This intransitive verb means 'to lean,' 'to incline,' 'to tilt,' 'to trend,' or 'to wane.' It describes something naturally leaning or shifting without a direct agent. For instance, a building might lean, or the sun might set.
建物が傾く (tatemono ga katamuku) — The building leans.
日が傾く (hi ga katamuku) — The sun sets (literally, 'leans').
かたむ.ける (katamukeru) — This transitive verb means 'to tilt,' 'to bend,' or 'to devote (effort/attention).' It implies an agent actively causing something to lean or dedicating something. For example, you might tilt a glass or devote your strength to a task.
グラスを傾ける (gurasu o katamukeru) — To tilt a glass (to drink).
耳を傾ける (mimi o katamukeru) — To listen closely (literally, 'to tilt one's ear').
力を傾ける (chikara o katamukeru) — To exert oneself (literally, 'to devote one's strength').
かたぶ.く (katabuku) — A less common, somewhat archaic or literary variant of かたむく, carrying a similar meaning of leaning or inclining.
かた.げる (katageru) — To tilt, especially one's head or shoulder slightly. This often suggests a subtle movement or gesture, perhaps in contemplation.
首を傾げる (kubi o katageru) — To tilt one's head (in thought or confusion).
かし.げる (kashigeru) — Similar to かたげる, but often specifically refers to tilting one's head in puzzlement, doubt, or wonder. This action might accompany a look of confusion.
首を傾げる (kubi o kashigeru) — To tilt one's head (in puzzlement).
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 傾 appears in many words and compounds, demonstrating its wide use in describing both physical and abstract concepts of leaning, tendencies, and devotion. Below are some key examples, organized by theme:
Tendencies & Inclinations
- 傾向 (keikou) — tendency; trend; inclination. This term frequently describes a general direction or characteristic, such as a social or economic trend.
- 傾斜 (keisha) — inclination; slant; slope; gradient. It refers to a physical angle, like a sloped roof, or a metaphorical leaning, such as a political bias.
- 右傾 (ukei) — right-leaning; rightist (political tendency). This term describes a conservative political orientation.
- 左傾 (sakei) — left-leaning; leftist (political tendency). Conversely, this describes a liberal political orientation.
Actions & Devotion
- 傾注 (keichuu) — devotion; concentration; dedication. For instance, pouring all one's energy into a project.
- 傾倒 (keitou) — adoration; devotion; fascination. This implies a deep admiration or strong leaning towards someone or something.
- 傾聴 (keichou) — attentive listening; heeding. It suggests listening carefully, often metaphorically with an 'inclination' of the ear towards the speaker.
- 傾心 (keishin) — fascination; affection; being charmed by. This describes one's heart 'leaning' towards someone due to strong attraction.
Physical & Abstract Shifts
- 傾く (katamuku) — to lean; to incline; to tilt; to trend; to wane; to sink. (intransitive verb). Example: The tower leans.
- 傾ける (katamukeru) — to tilt; to bend; to devote; to give (an ear to). (transitive verb). Example: He tilted the bottle.
- 傾き (katamuki) — inclination; trend; slant (noun form of かたむく). Example: There is a strong global trend towards renewable energy.
Example Sentences
あの古い家は少し傾いている。
Ano furui ie wa sukoshi katamuiteiru.
That old house is leaning a little.
彼はいつも新しいアイデアに耳を傾ける。
Kare wa itsumo atarashii aidea ni mimi o katamukeru.
He always listens attentively to new ideas.
夕日が西に傾き、空が赤く染まった。
Yuuhi ga nishi ni katamuki, sora ga akaku somatta.
The setting sun leaned to the west, and the sky was dyed red.
会社の経営が芳しくなく、傾きめている。
Kaisha no keiei ga kanbashikunaku, katamukihajimeteiru.
The company's management is not good, and it is starting to decline.
彼女は首を傾げて、質問の意味を考えた。
Kanojo wa kubi o kashigete, shitsumon no imi o kangaeta.
She tilted her head, considering the meaning of the question.
その建物は風の力で少し傾いた。
Sono tatemono wa kaze no chikara de sukoshi katamuita.
That building tilted slightly due to the force of the wind.
彼は研究にすべての力を傾けた。
Kare wa kenkyuu ni subete no chikara o katamuketa.
He devoted all his effort to the research.
会議では全員が社長の意見に耳を傾けた。
Kaigi de wa zen'in ga shachou no iken ni mimi o katamuketa.
In the meeting, everyone listened attentively to the president's opinion.
経済の傾向は今後も変わらないだろう。
Keizai no keikou wa kongo mo kawaranai darou.
The economic trend will likely not change in the future.
Memory Tip
To remember 傾, visualize a 'person' (人) literally 'tilting their head' (頃) in thought or surprise. The radical 人 on the left side clearly represents a human figure. The right side, 頃, depicts a 'head' (頁) with something sticking out, symbolizing a tilt. This combination paints a vivid picture of someone leaning or inclining, whether physically or metaphorically in their thoughts. Think of a curious person leaning forward to listen, or tilting their head to better understand something. This direct visual and conceptual link makes it easier to recall the kanji's core meanings of 'lean,' 'tilt,' and 'incline.'