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March 24, 2026
橫héng(heng2)
The character 橫 (héng) primarily means 'horizontal' or 'across.' It can also convey the idea of being unreasonable or harsh in certain contexts, such as when describing someone's behavior or actions that are overly severe or unjustified. This dual meaning makes it versatile in both descriptive and evaluative uses.
Strokes16Radical木Frequency#52780DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of being 橫 can relate to societal expectations of behavior; being harsh or unreasonable may be viewed negatively in interpersonal relationships, emphasizing the importance of harmony.
Memory Tip
Imagine a horizontal line drawn across a paper, representing the character 橫. The radical 木 (wood/tree) suggests it could be a tree lying flat, emphasizing the horizontal aspect. The 'h' sound in héng can remind you of 'hang' as in hanging horizontally.
Meanings of 橫
héng(heng2)
1horizontal, across; unreasonable, harsh
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 橫
橫Simplified
16Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 橫
Podcast: 橫
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AI Study Notes for 橫
Quick Contrast
横 (horizontally) vs 直 (zhí, straight) — use 橫 when emphasizing a horizontal orientation rather than a straight one.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a horizontal line drawn across a paper, representing the character 橫. The radical 木 (wood/tree) suggests it could be a tree lying flat, emphasizing the horizontal aspect. The 'h' sound in héng can remind you of 'hang' as in hanging horizontally.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 橫 with its antonym 竖 (shù), which means 'vertical.' It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing directions or describing layouts. Phrasing like 橫穿 (héngchuān - to cross horizontally) is a collocation to remember.
HSK Study Tips
Although 橫 is not in the HSK word list, it is useful for learners at an advanced level due to its nuanced meanings. Focus on its usage in phrases and idiomatic expressions to gain a deeper understanding, especially in descriptive language.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of being 橫 can relate to societal expectations of behavior; being harsh or unreasonable may be viewed negatively in interpersonal relationships, emphasizing the importance of harmony.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 橫 with other similar characters like 橘 (jú, orange) due to their visual similarities. Remember that 橫 specifically refers to horizontal or across, while 橘 pertains to fruit.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 橫
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Grammar Patterns of 橫
橫 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 1
Complete the Sentence
老修女仍然像从前一样专____,看到孩子们时却显得温和多了.
The old nun was as imperious as ever , but visibly thawed when she saw the children.
Example Sentences for 橫 (1)
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1
老修女仍然像从前一样专橫,看到孩子们时却显得温和多了.
lǎo xiū nǚ réng rán xiàng cóng qián yī yàng zhuān héng, , kàn dào hái zǐ mén shí què xiǎn dé wēn hé duō.
The old nun was as imperious as ever , but visibly thawed when she saw the children.
Cultural Notes for 橫
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the idea of being 橫 can relate to societal expectations of behavior; being harsh or unreasonable may be viewed negatively in interpersonal relationships, emphasizing the importance of harmony.
Word Family of 橫
Words Containing This Character20
横héngacross橫
才华横溢brilliant才華橫溢
横扫to sweep away橫掃
横向héngxiànghorizontal橫向
横行to riot橫行
纵横zònghéngcriss-crossed縱橫
横穿to cross橫穿
横梁beam橫梁
横幅banner橫幅
横跨to span橫跨
专横imperious專橫
横冲直撞to barge橫衝直撞
横行霸道to oppress橫行霸道
蛮横rude and unreasonable蠻橫
横滨Yokohama, Japan橫濱
横财easy money橫財
横渡to cross (a body of water)橫渡
横流to overflow橫流
横批horizontal scroll (for inscription)橫批
人行横道pedestrian crossing人行橫道
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 横 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 橫
Common phrases include 橫跨 (héngkuà - to span across) and 橫行 (hénxíng - to act recklessly).
Yes, 橫 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in descriptions of layout or behavior.
It is pronounced as 'héng,' with a rising tone, similar to the English word 'hang' but ending with a nasal 'ng' sound.
