列

liè

刂 + 歹

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

liè (verb) to arrange; to line up

liè (noun) file; series; column

Etymology

歹 depicts a wooden post with a cracked bottom and 刂 depicts a knife. Both used to convey the original meaning "break apart". 歹 also represents the sound. The meaning later shifted to "arrange in order" and "list".

Semantic: 刂

About

The character 列 is an ideogrammic compound. On the right, 刂 represents a sharp knife. On the left, 歹 originally depicted a fragmented bone or meat. Its etymological meaning was the violent action of splitting or butchering a carcass with a blade. This concrete sense of division evolved into the abstract concepts of arranging items in order, forming a sequence, or creating a classified list.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我列了一个清单。

Wǒ lièle yī gè qīngdān.

I made a list.

请列出三个例子。

Qǐng lièchū sān gè lìzi.

Please list three examples.

这些书排列得很整齐。

Zhèxiē shū páiliè de hěn zhěngqí.

These books are arranged very neatly.

列车准时到达了车站。

Lièchē zhǔnshí dàodále chēzhàn.

The train arrived at the station on time.

他在名单上列第一。

Tā zài míngdān shàng liè dìyī.

He is listed first on the list.

我们需要列举所有原因。

Wǒmen xūyào lièjǔ suǒyǒu yuányīn.

We need to enumerate all the reasons.

这个表格列出了详细数据。

Zhège biǎogé lièchūle xiángxì shùjù.

This table lists detailed data.

科学家将元素周期表按原子序数排列。

Kēxuéjiā jiāng yuánsù zhōuqī biǎo àn yuánzǐ xùshù páiliè.

Scientists arrange the periodic table of elements according to atomic number.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 刂

Component: 歹

列