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垂直 (chuí zhí) — to be perpendicular; to be vertical

Definition

Means 'perpendicular' or 'vertical' — geometric/technical term. Stronger and more precise than 竖 (which can also mean upright), and contrasts with 横向 ('horizontal, lateral').

verb
to be perpendicularto be vertical

Examples

  • 垂直。
    Zhè liǎng tiáo zhí xiàn hù xiāng chuí zhí.
    These two lines are perpendicular to each other.
  • 垂直，。
    Zhè ge qiáng bù chuí zhí, xū yào chóng xīn xiū.
    This wall isn't vertical; it needs to be redone.
  • 垂直。
    Qǐng bǎ huà kuàng guà chuí zhí.
    Please hang the picture frame straight (vertically).

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

垂chuíhanging
直zhístraight

垂 gives hanging or perpendicular and 直 gives straight, so together they mean straight like a hanging line.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

垂 combines 𠂹 and 土 to draw flowers hanging down from a plant.

Open 垂 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.

Open 直 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Shapes

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