Translation guide
To be positioned in a line, side by side. In Japanese, this is commonly expressed with verbs like 並ぶ (narabu) for intransitive 'to be lined up' and 並べる (naraberu) for transitive 'to line things up'. The choice depends on whether the subject is doing the action or the state is being described.
Describing a state where multiple people or objects are already in a row, or the action of them getting into a row by themselves.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to stand in a line', 'to be lined up', or 'to form a line'. Used when the subject itself is in a row or gets into a row.
子供たちが一列に並んでいる。
The children are standing in a row.
人々が切符を買うために並んだ。
People lined up to buy tickets.
Specifically 'to stand in a single row'. Adds clarity when the number of rows matters.
生徒たちは一列に並んで教室に入った。
The students entered the classroom standing in a single row.
Formal verb meaning 'to line up' or 'to fall in'. Often used in military, school, or formal settings.
兵士たちは整列した。
The soldiers stood in a row.
When someone deliberately places objects or people in a line.
Transitive verb meaning 'to line up' or 'to arrange in a row'. The subject acts on objects.
彼は本を棚に一列に並べた。
He stood the books in a row on the shelf.
先生は生徒を背の順に並べた。
The teacher lined up the students by height.
Explicitly 'to arrange in a single row'.
椅子を一列に並べてください。
Please stand the chairs in a row.
Describing a scene where things are already in a row, often using the te-iru form.
The te-iru form of 並ぶ indicates a continuing state: 'are standing in a row'.
木が道に沿って並んでいる。
Trees are standing in a row along the road.
並ぶ (narabu) is intransitive: the subject itself lines up. 並べる (naraberu) is transitive: someone lines something up. Compare: 人が並ぶ (people line up) vs. 人が物を並べる (people line things up).
Avoid directly translating 'stand' as 立つ (tatsu) when meaning 'to be in a row'. 立つ means to stand upright, not to form a line. Use 並ぶ or 並べる instead.