列

• Reading: れつ
• Romaji: retsu
• Kanji breakdown: 列 (retsu) — line, row, queue
• Pronunciation: /ɾe.t͡sɯ/

Meaning

Line; queue; row. A sequence of people or things arranged in order.

A noun used for any ordered arrangement — queues at shops, rows of seats, or columns in a table. Japanese culture places great importance on orderly queuing, and 列に並ぶ (stand in line) is a fundamental social norm. Also used in 行列 (procession, long queue).

Examples

1. ラーメン屋の前に長い列ができていた。 There was a long line in front of the ramen shop.
2. 列に並んで順番を待ちましょう。 Let's stand in line and wait for our turn.
3. 座席は前から三列目がいい。 I'd like a seat in the third row from the front.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, events, transportation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 列 depicts a knife (刂) cutting something apart in sequence, representing the concept of arranging things in a row or series.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal