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仄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
仄zèslanting, oblique; oblique tonesn, 4 strokes, radical 人, rank #65992, Very Hard
仄zèto tiltunknown, 4 strokes, radical 人, rank #65992, Very Hard
仄zènarrowunknown, 4 strokes, radical 人, rank #65992, Very Hard
仄zèuneasyunknown, 4 strokes, radical 人, rank #65992, Very Hard
仄zèoblique tones (in Chinese poetry)unknown, 4 strokes, radical 人, rank #65992, Very Hard
zè(ze4) T4
  1. 1slanting, oblique; oblique tones
  2. 2to tilt
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

仄zè(ze4)

The character 仄 (zè) refers to something that is slanting or oblique. It is often used in the context of tones in Chinese poetry, indicating an uneven or tilted quality. This term can also describe physical positions, such as tilting or narrowing, and can convey a sense of unease or awkwardness.

Strokes4Radical人Frequency#65992DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese poetry, the concept of tone is crucial, and 仄 denotes the 'oblique tones' that create a rhythmic structure. This reflects the importance of tonal variation in Chinese art and literature, where harmony and balance are valued.

Memory Tip

Imagine a slanted roof (仄) that leans to one side, creating an uneasy feeling. The left side of the character suggests a person leaning or tilting to the left, while the right side resembles a roof, reinforcing the idea of something being off-balance.

Meanings of 仄

zè(ze4)
1slanting, oblique; oblique tones
2to tilt
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 仄

仄Simplified
4Strokes
人Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 仄

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Podcast: 仄

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AI Study Notes for 仄

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 仄 with similar characters like 侧 (cè), which also means 'side' but has a different usage. This word is more commonly used in literary contexts and may not be familiar in everyday conversation. It is best used in discussions about poetry or descriptive language.

HSK Study Tips

Although 仄 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to other HSK words that deal with direction or positioning, such as 侧 (cè) or 倾斜 (qīngxié). Focus on its specific applications in poetry and literary analysis to enhance your understanding of Chinese literary forms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 仄 with similar characters due to pronunciation similarities. A common mistake is using it in a casual context where it does not apply; for example, saying '我感到仄' (wǒ gǎndào zè) instead of using a more appropriate term like '不安' (bù ān) for 'uneasy.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 仄

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Etymology of 仄

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A man 人 taking shelter in a lean-to 厂

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 仄

  1. 1The giveawayA man 人 taking shelter in a lean-to 厂
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 仄? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 仄?

Decomposition of 仄

IDS Structure⿸厂人
仄Full Character
=
厂chang3
enclosing
人ren2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 仄?

How to say slanting, oblique; oblique tones in Chinese

“slanting, oblique; oblique tones” in Chinese is仄zè

The character 仄 (zè) refers to something that is slanting or oblique. It is often used in the context of tones in Chinese poetry, indicating an uneven or tilted quality. This term can also describe physical positions, such as tilting or narrowing, and can convey a sense of unease or awkwardness.

When to use 仄

Be careful not to confuse 仄 with similar characters like 侧 (cè), which also means 'side' but has a different usage. This word is more commonly used in literary contexts and may not be familiar in everyday conversation. It is best used in discussions about poetry or descriptive language.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 仄 with similar characters due to pronunciation similarities. A common mistake is using it in a casual context where it does not apply; for example, saying '我感到仄' (wǒ gǎndào zè) instead of using a more appropriate term like '不安' (bù ān) for 'uneasy.'

Write 仄

仄

Practice writing 仄 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 仄

Words Containing This Character3
仄zèto tilt
平仄level and oblique tones (technical term for Classical Chinese rhythmic poetry)
仄声oblique tone仄聲
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 仄 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 仄

While 仄 (zè) refers to slanting or oblique tones, 侧 (cè) simply means 'side.' They have different applications, especially in literary contexts.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 仄?

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