列(れつ)

れつ

noun

row, line, queue

1. row, line

A series of objects or people arranged in a line.

列(れつ)に並(なら)ぶ。

To stand in line.

前列(ぜんれつ)に座(すわ)る。

To sit in the front row.

席(せき)が三(さん)列(れつ)に並(なら)んでいる。

The seats are arranged in three rows.

2. queue

A line of people waiting for something.

長(なが)い列(れつ)ができた。

A long queue formed.

列(れつ)に割(わ)り込(こ)まないでください。

Please don't cut in line.

ラーメン屋(や)の前(まえ)に列(れつ)ができていた。

There was a queue in front of the ramen shop.

列(れつ) refers to an arrangement of things or people in a line, row, or queue.

Compounds

行列(ぎょうれつ): queue, procession, matrix (math)
列車(れっしゃ): train
整列(せいれつ): lining up, alignment
前列(ぜんれつ): front row
後列(こうれつ): back row
列島(れっとう): archipelago, chain of islands

Common expressions

列(れつ)に並(なら)ぶ: to stand in line
列(れつ)を作(つく)る: to form a line
列(れつ)に割(わ)り込(こ)む: to cut in line
列(れつ)を乱(みだ)す: to break ranks

Usage

列(れつ) is more formal than 行列(ぎょうれつ) for queues. In daily speech, 並(なら)んでいる人(ひと) (people lining up) is common.

general

Added 2026.1.9 21:21 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

02000/02171_retsu