列 liè — to arrange; to line up; row; file; series
同学们排成一列。Tóng xué men pái chéng yí liè.The students lined up in a row.
Common words: 系列 (xì liè)、列车 (liè chē)、列入 (liè rù)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "file"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "file", including 列 (liè), 案 (àn), 档 (dàng). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "file" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 列 (liè), 案 (àn), 档 (dàng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span liè, àn, dàng — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 列 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 列 lièto arrange; to line up; row; file; seriesUseful words: 系列, 列车
- 案 àn(legal) case; incident; record; file; tableUseful words: 答案, 方案
- 档 dàngcross-piece; official records; grade (of goods); file; records; shelvesUseful words: 高档, 档案
Common words for these 3 "file" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 列 (liè) — so "file" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "file".
案 àn — (legal) case; incident; record; file; table
警察正在调查这个案件。Jǐng chá zhèng zài diào chá zhè ge àn jiàn.The police are investigating this case.
Common words: 答案 (dá àn)、方案 (fāng àn)、图案 (tú àn)
档 dàng — cross-piece; official records; grade (of goods); file; records; shelves
这些资料都整理好放进了档案里。Zhè xiē zī liào dōu zhěng lǐ hǎo fàng jìn le dàng àn lǐ.These materials were organized and put into the file.
Common words: 高档 (gāo dàng)、档案 (dàng àn)、搭档 (dā dàng)
All 3 characters
Open 列、案、档 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.