Translation guide
Describes people or things arranged side by side in a line. Japanese uses verbs like 並ぶ (narabu) for the state or action of lining up, and 並んでいる (narande iru) for the ongoing state of being in a row. The choice depends on whether you are describing the arrangement itself or the action of getting into that arrangement.
Describe a scene where multiple people or objects are already arranged in a row.
The most common way to say that people or things are standing/placed in a row. Uses the te-iru form of 並ぶ (narabu) to indicate a continuing state.
People are standing in a row.
The books are lined up neatly on the shelf.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to stand in a row' or 'to be lined up'. Often used in dictionary forms to describe the state, but 並んでいる is more common for ongoing states.
Houses stand in a row along the road.
Passive form of 並べる (naraberu), meaning 'are arranged in a row' by someone. Emphasizes that the arrangement was done intentionally.
The desks are arranged in a row.
Describe the action of people or things moving into a row formation.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to line up' or 'to stand in a row'. Used when the subject itself moves into position.
The students lined up in the hallway.
Line up to buy tickets.
Transitive verb meaning 'to line something up' or 'to arrange in a row'. The subject arranges objects or other people.
More formal or literary expressions for standing in a row.
並ぶ (narabu) is intransitive: the subject itself lines up. 並べる (naraberu) is transitive: someone lines something up. Compare: 生徒が並ぶ (students line up) vs 先生が生徒を並べる (the teacher lines up the students).
Adding 一列に (in one row/line) clarifies that it's a single row, not multiple rows. 二列に (niretsu ni) means 'in two rows'.
先生は子供たちを一列に並べた。
The teacher lined up the children in a row.
Please line up the chairs along the wall.