The Meaning of retsu [列] In Japanese

列
れつ
Romaji: retsu N5

What does 列 mean?

Translation and Meaning

line, row, queue, column, sequence, series, file, rank

Definition

What does 列 mean? It denotes a line or row of items arranged in order, a queue or sequence, and by extension a category or grouping within a larger set. In everyday usage it functions as a generic noun for a linear arrangement and appears in contexts of order or alignment, including rows, columns, and ordered series.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Order and arrangement in space: physical lines of objects or people
  • Sequential progression or chronology
  • Column or file in a table or matrix
  • In compounds it forms terms denoting grouped formations (for example lines or groups like archipelago or train contexts)

Etymology

on’yomi (retsu) from Chinese liè; historical phonetic shifts in Japanese phonology adapted the sound to retsu. kun’yomi narabu exists as a native verb sense related to lining up, but the standalone kanji reading is primarily retsu in compounds.

Origin

Kanji introduction to Japan came with Chinese influence in the 5th–6th centuries, enabling the representation of concepts like line, row, and sequence in written Japanese; over time it became a common character in Sino-Japanese vocabulary.

Usage

Used as a noun in formal writing to denote a line or column; in everyday language it appears in phrases describing formation and order, and in compounds like 整列, 行列, 列車, and 列島 to convey related concepts of lineup, sequence, and grouping.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture a long queue of people standing in a neat line; each person adds to the sense of order, reminding you that 列 conveys lines, rows, and sequences.

Variations

  • 並び narabi — lining up
  • gyōretsu — line or procession; matrix
  • seiretsu — orderly formation
  • sanran — disorder (antonym)
  • rettō — archipelago

Example Phrases

  • 今朝、 駅のホームで 私の列車は もう 発車しました。
    kesa, eki no hōmu de watashi no ressha wa mō hassha shimashita.
    This morning at the station platform, my train has already departed.
    Lista:
    • 今朝 (kesa) – this morning
    • 駅のホームで (eki no hōmu de) – at the station platform
    • 私の列車は (watashi no ressha wa) – my train
    • もう (mou) – already
    • 発車しました (hassha shimashita) – departed
    Core point: 「発車」 is a noun meaning the departure of a vehicle; here it combines with する to form 発車します/しました, meaning has departed.
  • 複雑な手続きに困りつつ、私は列に並んで書類を提出した。
    Fukuzatsu na tetsuzuki ni komoritsutsu, watashi wa retsu ni narande shorui o teishutsushita.
    While I was troubled by the complex procedure, I lined up to submit the documents.
    Lista:
    • 複雑な手続きに困りつつ、私は列に並んで書類を提出した (Fukuzatsu na tetsuzuki ni komoritsutsu, watashi wa retsu ni narande shorui o teishutsushita) – direct translation in en
    核心点: O termo 「複雑」 funciona como na-adjetivo; aqui aparece como 複雑な before 手続き; つつ expressa ‘enquanto’ (ação simultânea) neste contexto.
  • 駅の前に並ぶ行列を横目に待った。
    Eki no mae ni narabu gyouretsu o yokome ni matta.
    I waited, glancing at the line forming in front of the station.
    Lista:
    • 駅 (eki) – station
    • の (no) – of
    • 前に (mae ni) – in front of
    • 並ぶ (narabu) – line up
    • 行列 (gyouretsu) – queue
    • を (wo) – (object marker)
    • 横目に (yokome ni) – with a sideways glance
    • 待った (matta) – waited
    In 「駅の前に並ぶ」, 「行列」 means a queue; the phrase describes the queue as it exists in front of the station, and 「を」 marks it as the object of 待つ, while 「横目に」 conveys glancing with a sideways look. The target word is 「行列」.
  • 駅で 乗り換えを して 次の列車に 乗る 予定です。
    Eki de norikae o shite, tsugi no ressha ni noru yotei desu.
    I plan to transfer at the station and ride the next train.
    Lista:
    • 駅で (Eki de) – at the station
    • 乗り換えを (norikae o) – transfer
    • して (shite) – doing
    • 次の列車に (tsugi no ressha ni) – to the next train
    • 乗る (noru) – to ride
    • 予定です。 (yotei desu.) – is planned
    Here, 「乗り換え」 means transfer between trains and is used as a noun with をして to indicate performing the transfer.
  • 年中、私の近所のパン屋は朝から行列ができる。
    Nenjū, watashi no kinjo no pan-ya wa asa kara gyōretsu ga dekiru.
    Year-round, long lines form at the bakery near my home from morning.
    Lista:
    • 年中 (nenjū) – year-round
    • 私の (watashi no) – my
    • 近所の (kinjo no) – nearby
    • パン屋 (pan-ya) – bakery
    • は (wa) – (topic marker)
    • 朝から (asa kara) – from morning
    • 行列 (gyōretsu) – line
    • が (ga) – (subject marker)
    • できる (dekiru) – to form
    「年中」 means ‘year-round’; here it functions as an adverb modifying the predicate to express habitual occurrence.
列