Japanese word

横

Pronunciation

Romajiyoko

Meaning

  • nounhorizontal

Example

横の線を引きます。yoko no sen o hi ki ma su

I draw a horizontal line.

Illustration for 横 (horizontal)

More examples

ノートに二本の線を横に並べて書きます。nō to ni ni pon no sen o yoko ni nara be te ka ki ma su

I draw two lines side by side in my notebook.

Core concept

It describes something positioned or measured across the space between two sides rather than along a vertical line.

Common phrases

  • 横の線yoko no sen

    horizontal line

  • 横に並ぶyoko ni nara bu

    line up horizontally

  • 横に並べるyoko ni nara be ru

    arrange side by side

Similar words

縦tate: A direction or position that follows a line from top to bottom.
水平suihei: A level direction or position that extends from side to side.
横向きyokomuki: A position turned so that the side of an object faces forward.

Definition in Japanese

上下ではなく左右に延びる向きや、その向きにある側、左右の広さ。jō ge de wa na ku sa yū ni no bi ru mu ki ya so no mu ki ni a ru gawa sa yū no hiro sa

Word origin

横 (yoko, "side") is a native Japanese word whose basic sense is a side or flank; this sense develops into horizontal direction and the distance from side to side.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 横に (yoko ni) can mean "beside" as well as "horizontally," as in 横に座る (yoko ni suwaru), meaning to sit next to someone.

Other meanings

  • sidenoun
  • widthnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word