顺序

• Pinyin: shùn xù
• Hanzi breakdown: 顺 = 川 (river) + 页 (head/page), meaning to flow along or follow; 序 = 广 (shelter) + 予 (to give), meaning order or preface

Meaning

Order; sequence; the arrangement of things one after another.

Refers to the logical or chronological order in which things are arranged or should be done. Used for steps in a process, ranking, queuing, and any situation where sequence matters.

Examples

1. 请按照顺序排队，不要插队。 Please queue in order; don't cut in line.
2. 你能告诉我这些步骤的顺序吗？ Can you tell me the order of these steps?
3. 他把文件按照时间顺序整理好了。 He organised the documents in chronological order.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, work, education

Tone: instructive

Do Say

• 做这道菜的顺序不能搞错。(You can't get the sequence wrong when cooking this dish.)
• 老师让学生按照学号顺序坐好。(The teacher asked the students to sit in order of student number.)

Don't Say

• 我的房间很顺序。(Don't use 顺序 as an adjective — it is a noun. Use 整齐 for tidy or orderly.)

Origin & History

Compound of 顺 (to follow, along) and 序 (order, preface), meaning the order in which things follow.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal