排

• Pinyin: pái
• Hanzi breakdown: 排 = 扌(hand radical) + 非 (phonetic component)

Meaning

Row; line; to arrange. As a noun or measure word, it means a row or line of things; as a verb, it means to arrange or line up.

Commonly used as a measure word for things arranged in rows: 一排座位 (a row of seats), 一排树 (a row of trees). As a verb, it means to arrange or put in order. Also appears in compounds like 排队 (queue up) and 排列 (arrange in order).

Examples

1. 教室里有五排桌子。 There are five rows of desks in the classroom.
2. 我们坐在第一排。 We are sitting in the first row.
3. 请你帮我排一下顺序。 Please help me arrange the order.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, describing arrangement, seating

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 前面那排是VIP座位。(The front row is VIP seating.)
• 把这些书排整齐。(Arrange these books neatly.)

Don't Say

• 不要用排来量不成行的东西 (Don't use 排 as a measure word for things that are not in a line or row — use appropriate measure words like 个 or 组 instead)

Origin & History

Composed of 扌(hand radical) and 非 (not, opposing — phonetic). The hand radical connects to the action of arranging or placing things side by side.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal