傾斜

けいしゃ

inclination, slope, dip

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Understanding 傾斜 (けいしゃ)

傾斜 refers to the physical or figurative inclination or slope of a surface or object. It is commonly used in contexts involving roads, buildings, graphs, or any surface that is not flat.

Usage and Nuance

When using 傾斜, speakers often imply a measurable angle or degree of tilt. It can describe natural slopes like hills or man-made inclines such as ramps or roads. In technical or scientific contexts, it is used to describe the angle of tilt precisely.

Common Collocations

  • 傾斜が急 (けいしゃがきゅう): steep slope; used to warn or describe sharp inclines.
  • 傾斜を測る (けいしゃをはかる): to measure the inclination; common in engineering or construction.
  • 傾斜角 (けいしゃかく): angle of inclination; technical term.

Register and Formality

傾斜 is a formal noun often used in written language, technical reports, and formal speech. It is less common in casual conversation unless discussing specific topics like construction or geography.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 傾斜 with 勾配 (こうばい), which also means slope but is more technical and often used in mathematics or physics. 傾斜 is more general and can be used in everyday contexts involving physical slopes.

Example Sentences

このどうろはけいしゃがきゅうなので、うんてんにちゅういしてください。

This road has a steep slope, so please be careful when driving.

たてもののけいしゃをそくていして、じばんのあんぜんせいをかくにんした。

We measured the building's inclination to check the safety of the ground.

グラフのけいしゃがきゅうだと、へんかがはやいことをいみします。

A steep slope on the graph means that the change is rapid.