Word
行列
Meaning in Englishline, procession; matrix (math)
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
What does 行列 mean? It denotes a line of people waiting in a queue and, in mathematics, a rectangular array of numbers or symbols used in linear algebra. In everyday Japanese it's a common noun for 'line' and in technical contexts it refers to a matrix.
Main meanings
- Queue or line of people waiting for service, tickets, or transport.
- Matrix in mathematics, a rectangular array of numbers or symbols arranged in rows and columns used in linear algebra and data representation.
How to use it
Used as a noun in both everyday and formal contexts: in casual conversation it refers to a line of people; in mathematics and computer science it denotes a matrix. In formal writing you will encounter compound terms such as 行列のサイズ, 行列の要素, and 直交行列.
Variants and close terms
- 列 (れつ) — column or line; romaji: retsu
- マトリクス (matrikusu) — matrix; romaji: matrikusu
Composition
- 行: movement, action; in this compound it carries the sense of arrangement or order.
- 列: row or column; contributes the idea of a structured grid forming a two-dimensional array.
Word class
noun (名詞)