斜阳 (xié yáng) — (literary) slanting rays of the setting sun; twilight sunlight

Definition

A literary/poetic word for the slanting rays of the setting sun, typically evoking twilight or dusk. Read as a set phrase (not 'slanted' + 'sun'); far more书面 than 夕阳.

noun
(literary) slanting rays of the setting suntwilight sunlight
Measure word · 缕

Examples

  • 斜阳，。
    xié yáng Zhào zài gǔ lǎo de chéng qiáng shàng, xiǎn de gé wài měi lì.
    The slanting sunlight fell on the ancient city wall, looking especially beautiful.
  • 斜阳。
    Shī rén xǐ huan yòng xié yáng lái miáo xiě huáng hūn de jǐng sè.
    Poets like to use 'slanting sun' to describe the twilight scenery.
  • 斜阳，。
    xié yáng Xià, tā de bèi yǐng jiàn jiàn xiāo shī zài yuǎn fāng.
    Under the slanting sunlight, his silhouette gradually disappeared into the distance.

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.

斜xiéslanting
阳yángsun

斜 means slanting and 阳 means sun, together suggesting the low sun of evening.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
斗斗dòuladle/dipper
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú斜xié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

斜 pairs 斗, a ladle or dipper, with 余 for sound; the idea of scooping or drawing out was extended to mean a slant.

Open 斜 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 陽; 阳 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阜阜fùhill
Sound part声符shēngfú
昜
昜yáng陽yáng
Same sound today

In the traditional form 陽, 阜 shows a hill and 昜 is the older character for the word, tied to sunshine and the sound; simplified 阳 is a later shorthand.

Open 阳 →

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