横並(よこなら)び

よこならび
noun
side by side; in a row; uniform conformity
society
1. side by side; in a row; lined up horizontally
The physical arrangement of people or things placed next to each other in a horizontal line.
横並(よこなら)びに座(すわ)る。
To sit side by side.
子(こ)どもたちが横並(よこなら)びで写真(しゃしん)を撮(と)った。
The children took a photo lined up side by side.
選手(せんしゅ)たちが横並(よこなら)びでスタートラインに立(た)った。
The athletes stood side by side at the starting line.
2. uniform conformity; keeping pace with others; herd mentality
A tendency for organizations, companies, or individuals to maintain uniformity by doing the same thing as everyone else, avoiding standing out. Often used critically.
横並(よこなら)び意識(いしき)が強(つよ)い。
The conformity mentality is strong.
各社(かくしゃ)が横並(よこなら)びの価格(かかく)を設定(せってい)している。
Each company has set uniform prices.
横並(よこなら)びの発想(はっそう)を捨(す)てて、独自(どくじ)の戦略(せんりゃく)を打(う)ち出(だ)すべきだ。
We should abandon the herd mentality and put forward an original strategy.

From 横(よこ) (horizontal, side) + 並(なら)び (lining up). The literal sense of physical side-by-side arrangement extends metaphorically to describe conformist behavior.

Usage

Sense 2 is frequently used in business and social commentary to criticize Japanese organizational culture where companies or institutions copy each other rather than innovate. Often appears with 意識(いしき) (awareness/mentality) as 横並(よこなら)び意識(いしき).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 並列(へいれつ) — parallel, side by side (more technical/formal, no conformity nuance)
  • 右(みぎ)へならえ — follow the leader, do as others do (stronger criticism of blind conformity)
  • 一律(いちりつ) — uniform, across the board (focuses on identical treatment rather than herd behavior)

Related Words

Compare: 並列(へいれつ) (parallel, side by side)
Compare: 一律(いちりつ) (uniform, across the board)
Compare: 横(よこ)一列(いちれつ) (in a horizontal line)
general
Added 2026.3.29 4:14 · Revised 2026.9.12 2:09
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