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正横 (せいおう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

正せい横おう

Meanings

1

adverb

abeam

Nautical term indicating a direction at right angles to the ship's keel, i.e., directly to the side.

船ふねは正せい横おうから波なみを受うけた。
The ship took waves abeam.
灯とう台だいが正せい横おうに見みえる。
The lighthouse is visible abeam.

Kanji

正correct, justice, righteous
横sideways, side, horizontal

Similar words

横よこ
General word for 'side' or 'horizontal'; 正横 is a specialized nautical term for the direction perpendicular to the ship's centerline.
舷げん側そく
Refers to the ship's side or broadside, often used in similar nautical contexts, but 正横 specifically denotes the abeam direction.

Etymology

Compound of 正 (sei, 'correct' or 'right') and 横 (ō, 'side'), literally meaning 'right side' or 'directly lateral'. The term is a direct translation of the English nautical term 'abeam'.