Definitions

liè (verb) to arrange; to line up
liè (noun) file; series; column

Etymology

Depicts breaking apart bones () using a knife (). also represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "break apart". The meaning later shifted to "arrange in order" and "list".

Semantic:

About

The character "列" originates from a structural composition where the element "歹" implies a association with bone or residual matter, integrated with "刂", the knife radical denoting cutting, collectively conveying an initial sense of severing or parting. This core notion of physical division progressively broadened to incorporate the idea of systematic arrangement, as the act of separating entities naturally lent itself to ordering them into rows or sequences. Consequently, its semantic scope expanded to include meanings such as to list, to categorize, or to stand in a series, reflecting a transition from concrete action to abstract organization, while its traditional graphical form has persisted with consistent components throughout its historical usage.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

了一个清单。

Wǒ lièle yī gè qīngdān.

I made a list.

出三个例子。

Qǐng lièchū sān gè lìzi.

Please list three examples.

这些书排得很整齐。

Zhèxiē shū páiliè de hěn zhěngqí.

These books are arranged very neatly.

车准时到达了车站。

Lièchē zhǔnshí dàodále chēzhàn.

The train arrived at the station on time.

他在名单上第一。

Tā zài míngdān shàng liè dìyī.

He is listed first on the list.

我们需要举所有原因。

Wǒmen xūyào lièjǔ suǒyǒu yuányīn.

We need to enumerate all the reasons.

这个表格出了详细数据。

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

Kēxuéjiā jiāng yuánsù zhōuqī biǎo àn yuánzǐ xùshù páiliè.

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