横 Kanji – sideways
The Japanese kanji 横 can mean sideways, side, horizontal, width, woof, unreasonable, perverse.
Meaning and Readings
How is 横 read?
横 has the onyomi reading オウ and the kunyomi reading よこ.
In romaji, these readings can be written as ou, yoko.
Common Japanese Words Using 横
These common Japanese words contain 横. Select linked kanji to explore their meanings and readings.
- 横（よこ） — horizontal (as opposed to vertical)
- 横たわる（よこたわる） — to lie down, to stretch out
- 横顔（よこがお） — profile, face in profile, face seen from the side
- 横綱（よこづな） — yokozuna (highest rank in sumo), grand champion
- 横行（おうこう） — being rampant, being widespread, being prevalent
- 横取り（よこどり） — snatching, stealing, seizure, usurpation
- 横書き（よこがき） — writing horizontally, horizontal writing
- 横切る（よこぎる） — to cross (e.g. road), to traverse
- 横線（おうせん） — horizontal line
- 横断（おうだん） — crossing (a road, river, etc.), cutting through (e.g. of a river through a town), cutting across, intersecting (e.g. a railway track)