1.
horizontal writing
Writing arranged in horizontal lines that run from left to right across the page. The standard writing direction for modern Japanese scientific, technical, and digital texts, as well as most web content.
この文書は横書きだ。
This document is written horizontally.
横書きの場合、数字はアラビア数字を使う。
When writing horizontally, Arabic numerals are used.
教科書は理系が横書き、文系が縦書きのものが多い。
Textbooks for science subjects are often written horizontally, while those for humanities are often vertical.
ETYMOLOGY:
横 (horizontal, sideways) + 書き (writing, from 書く, to write). Literally "sideways writing."
USAGE:
Japanese can be written in two directions: 横書き (horizontal, left to right) and 縦書き (vertical, top to bottom, columns right to left). Horizontal writing is standard for scientific texts, emails, web pages, and business documents. Vertical writing is traditional and still used for novels, newspapers, and formal documents. Many Japanese people switch between the two depending on context.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 横書きにする: to write horizontally
- 横書きの文章: horizontally written text
- 横書き用: for horizontal writing
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 縦書き: vertical writing (the traditional counterpart)