横

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 横 is read as よこ and is a noun for the side of a reference point or a horizontal orientation.
• Basic usage: A position beside someone appears in 私の横に座る, while turning something sideways appears in 紙を横にする.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Position and orientation
  • In 横にいる, it marks a position beside something; in 横にする, it means placing something horizontally rather than vertically.
• Difference from そば
  • そば can refer broadly to a nearby area, whereas 横 more clearly identifies the side immediately next to a reference point.