斜

Phono-semantic compound:

斗 (말 두, “measuring vessel, dipper”) — semantic element, originally suggesting balance, measure, or tilt.

余 (나 여, phonetic) — provides the sound 사.

Thus, originally denoting something that is not upright but leaning or inclined.

Script evolution:

Bronze inscriptions (金文 jinwen): showed components of 斗 and 余 more distinctly, with the sense of imbalance or tilt.

Clerical script (隸書): graphical compression of the parts, stabilizing into a slanted form itself.

Regular script (楷書): standardized as the modern 斜.

斜面 (사면) — slope, inclined plane

斜陽 (사양) — setting sun; decline

斜視 (사시) — squint, strabismus

斜線 (사선) — diagonal line

傾斜 (경사) — inclination, slope

In some older Korean fonts (20th century), the top right 人 was written as 入, a variant form.