1.
vertical line; perpendicular line
A line that runs vertically, or more precisely a line that meets another line or plane at right angles. Used in geometry, physics, and architecture, as well as in everyday descriptions of shapes on screens and paper.
ノートに垂直線を引く。
To draw a vertical line in a notebook.
この図の垂直線と水平線を見てください。
Please look at the vertical and horizontal lines in this diagram.
建物の柱は、地面に対してきれいな垂直線になっている。
The pillars of the building form a clean vertical line with respect to the ground.
数学の授業で、点Aを通る直線Lの垂直線を作図する方法を習った。
In math class we learned how to construct a line perpendicular to line L passing through point A.
Composed of 垂直 (vertical; perpendicular) and 線 (line). The meaning depends on context: in everyday usage it typically means 'vertical line' (running up-and-down on the page); in geometry, it refers to a line that is perpendicular to a given line or surface, regardless of its absolute orientation.
USAGE:
Two main contexts:
- **Everyday / visual**: a line that stands upright on the page or screen, contrasting with 水平線 (horizontal line).
- **Mathematics / physics**: a line that meets another line or plane at a 90-degree angle.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 垂直線を引く: to draw a vertical / perpendicular line
- 垂直線を下ろす: to drop a perpendicular (from a point to a line or plane)
- 垂直線と水平線: vertical and horizontal lines
- 垂直線に対して: with respect to the vertical / perpendicular line
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 水平線: horizontal line — the natural antonym
- 垂線: perpendicular (line) — a shorter, more formal geometric term, particularly common in math textbooks
- 直線: straight line — the general term for any straight line, regardless of orientation
- 縦線: vertical stroke / line — more informal; often used in everyday descriptions of patterns and drawings
- 鉛直線: plumb line — a physical line hanging straight down under gravity; used in surveying and physics for true verticality