横 héng horizontal
horizontal; across; unreasonable; harsh; crosswise; to cross
How to remember 横: 木 tree + 黄 yellow = horizontal. After the storm, the old tree full of yellow leaves lies horizontal the whole road.
Component breakdown
横 = 木 tree + 黄 yellow
- 木 tree
- 黄 yellow
After the storm, the old tree full of yellow leaves lies horizontal the whole road.
How it is used
- Horizontal/crosswise, the opposite of 竖 (shù, vertical) - 横线 (héngxiàn) a horizontal line, 横过马路 to cross the road, 竖线 (shùxiàn) a vertical line.
- 横向 (héngxiàng) = lateral/horizontal (横向比较 a side-by-side comparison).
- Second reading hèng = harsh/unreasonable/violent: 蛮横 (mánhèng) overbearing, 横财 (hèngcái) ill-gotten windfall.
- 纵横 (zònghéng) 'vertical and horizontal' = crisscrossing, or free-ranging/unrestrained.