hénghèng

across

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Components
木 meaning component

  Meaning component

  

tree

黄 sound component

  Sound component

huáng

  

yellow

Evolution

横 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
横 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
横 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
横 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

héng

across, horizontal, lateral; horizontal; across; crosswise; horizontal stroke (in Chinese characters); to place (sth) flat (on a surface); to cross (a river, etc); in a jumble; chaotic; (in fixed expressions) harsh and unreasonable; violent

() 

hèng

harsh and unreasonable; unexpected

Most common words with 横
Freq.
Word
Meaning

across

才华横溢

brilliant

横扫

to sweep away

横向

horizontal

横行

to riot