noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
Used as a noun or no-adjective to describe something positioned diagonally. Often appears in set phrases like 斜に構える (to adopt a defiant or ironic attitude). The reading はす is more common in everyday use, while しゃ is mainly used in compounds.
See also: 斜め
He always talks with a cynical, defiant attitude.
He always takes a defiant, ironic attitude.
The picture was hanging diagonally on the wall.
I cut the cloth diagonally before sewing it together.
I placed the desk at an angle to the wall.
Standard kanji spelling for the reading はす, meaning 'diagonal'.
The kanji 斜 means 'diagonal' or 'slanting'. The reading はす is a native Japanese reading (kun'yomi), while しゃ is the Sino-Japanese reading (on'yomi). The exact derivation of はす is uncertain, but it is related to the idea of being askew or not straight.