Meaning & readings

file, row, rank, tier, column

On’yomi レツ、レ
Nanori れっ

Origin

The character combines two components that both suggest the idea of division or arrangement. The left side (歹) relates to bones or skeletal structure, which naturally divides into distinct segments. The right side (刂) is a knife or cutting tool, representing the act of dividing things apart. Together, these components evoke the sense of something split into separate, orderly pieces — which is how a file, row, or rank works: individual items arranged one after another in a line.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Compound ideographic (combined meanings).

6 strokes

Components

  • radical left
  • radical right

Common words

  • 系列 けいれつ series; sequence
  • 後列 こうれつ back row; rear rank
  • 行列 ぎょうれつ line; queue
  • 参列 さんれつ attendance; participation
  • 序列 じょれつ rank; ranking order
  • 整列 せいれつ standing in a row; forming a line
  • 戦列 せんれつ line of battle
  • 葬列 そうれつ funeral procession

Reference

Strokes
6
Kangxi radical
18
Grade
Grade 3 (Kyōiku)
Frequency rank
#927 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 2
Unicode
U+05217