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Kotomora

列

file, row, rank, tier, column

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • レツ
  • レ

Kun'yomi

—

Nanori

  • れっ

Meaning

列 centers on things arranged in a line: a file, row, rank, tier, or column. All meanings share the idea of orderly linear placement.

Most common words using 列

23 of 327
  • 列れつ
    N3

    row; line; file; column; queue; rank; procession

  • 列車れっしゃ
    N3

    train; railway train

  • 系列けいれつ
    N1

    series; sequence; system; succession

  • 行列ぎょうれつ
    N3

    line; queue; procession; parade

  • 配列はいれつ
    N1

    arranging; ordering; sequencing; lining up; laying out

  • 列島れっとう
    N2

    archipelago; chain of islands

  • 参列さんれつ

    attendance; participation; presence

  • 並列へいれつ
    N1

    arranging in a line; standing in a row

  • 陳列ちんれつ
    N1

    exhibition; display; putting on show

  • 序列じょれつ

    rank; ranking order; hierarchy

  • 列挙れっきょ

    enumeration; list

  • 整列せいれつ
    N1

    standing in a row; forming a line; alignment

  • 直列ちょくれつ
    N1

    series (e.g. electrical)

  • 羅列られつ

    enumeration; citation; listing

  • 同列どうれつ
    N1

    same row; same line; same file

  • 後列こうれつ

    back row; rear rank

  • 年功序列ねんこうじょれつ

    seniority by length of service

  • 戦列せんれつ

    line of battle

  • 葬列そうれつ

    funeral procession

  • 最前列さいぜんれつ
    N2

    front row

  • 千島列島ちしまれっとう

    Kurile Islands

  • 長蛇の列ちょうだのれつ

    long line; long queue

  • 列国れっこく

    nations; states

Explore all words using 列 →

Study

Etymology

列 combines 歹 (originally a pictograph of bone or death) with 刂 (knife), but the historical connection to 'row' or 'file' is not straightforward. The character likely developed from an older form meaning 'to arrange' or 'to line up', with the components possibly contributing phonetic or semantic hints that are now obscure.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 歹 looks like a row of bones, and the right side 刂 is a knife. Imagine arranging bones in a neat row with a knife to make a file or column.

Reading mnemonic

For レツ, picture a row of soldiers standing at attention, and their commander shouts 'Let's!' (レツ) to start marching in a column.