Meaning & readings

diagonal, slanting, oblique

On’yomi シャ
Kun’yomi なな.め、はす

Origin

The character combines two components to show something tilted or angled. On the right, the radical (a measure or container shape) provides a classification related to things that can be measured or positioned. On the left, acts as a sound hint for the pronunciation シャ, telling you roughly how to say the character rather than adding to its meaning. Together, these parts created a character meaning "diagonal" or "slanting" — something that isn't standing straight but is positioned at an angle.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Phono-semantic (meaning + sound hint).

11 strokes

Components

  • sound hint left
  • radical right

A sound hint component points at the character’s pronunciation, not its meaning — don’t read a meaning into it.

Common words

  • 傾斜 けいしゃ inclination; slant
  • 斜め ななめ slanting; tilted
  • 斜面 しゃめん slope; slanting surface
  • 斜陽 しゃよう setting sun
  • 斜体 しゃたい oblique type; slanted type

Reference

Strokes
11
Kangxi radical
68
Grade
Jōyō (secondary school)
Frequency rank
#1504 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 1
Unicode
U+0659C