Japanese Conversation · Level 50
90 words
Japanese word
斜め
Pronunciation
Romajinaname
Meaning
- na-adjectivediagonal
Example
線は斜めです。sen wa nana me de su
The line is diagonal.
More examples
箱を斜めにすると、狭い棚にも入ります。bako o nana me ni su ru to sema i tana ni mo hai ri ma su
If you tilt the box, it will fit even on a narrow shelf.
Core concept
It describes something that departs from a straight horizontal or vertical direction, often appearing slanted or tilted.
Common phrases
斜めの線nana me no sen
diagonal line
斜め向かいnana me mu ka i
diagonally opposite
斜めに置くnana me ni o ku
place diagonally
Definition in Japanese
まっすぐな縦や横の方向に対して、傾いた方向にあるさま。ma ssu gu na tate ya yoko no hō kō ni tai shi te katamu i ta hō kō ni a ru sa ma
Word origin
The native Japanese word 斜め (naname) is written with 斜 (sha, "slanting"); the historical formation of the full reading is uncertain.
Usage tips
- In casual Japanese, 斜め上 (naname ue) literally means "diagonally upward" and often describes an unexpected response or development.
Other meanings
- slantedna-adjective
- tiltedna-adjective
Opposites
- まっすぐmassugustraightadverb