Japanese kanji 列: rows, queues and trains

The idea

列 has six strokes; follow the linked diagram. Read 列 as れつ, 行列 as ぎょうれつ, 列車 as れっしゃ and 一列 as いちれつ. The small っ in 列車 marks a pause before しゃ.

Examples

• 店みせの前まえに長ながい列れつがあります。There is a long queue in front of the shop.
• ここに列れつに並ならんでください。Please line up here.
• 列車れっしゃがまもなく到着とうちゃくします。The train will arrive shortly.
• 私わたしたちは行列ぎょうれつで一時間いちじかん待まちました。We waited in line for an hour.
• 道みちに沿そって木きが一列いちれつに立たっています。Trees stand in a row along the road.
• 前まえの列れつに座すわってください。Please sit in the front row.

Watch out

列 means a row or queue, while 例 means an example. They look alike, but 例 has the person component on the left. 行列 can also mean a procession, depending on context.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 列車 in hiragana.

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   れっしゃ

   列車 is れっしゃ: the small っ marks a doubled consonant. It means a train.

2. Write the reading of 行列 in hiragana.

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   ぎょうれつ

   行列 is ぎょうれつ. Here it means a queue; it can also mean a procession.

3. Choose the missing kanji: 一＿（いちれつ）［列／例］.

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   列

   列 completes 一列（いちれつ）, meaning one row. 例 means an example.

Use it today

Write 列 following the diagram. Cover the table, read 行列 and 列車, then make a sentence about a queue.