次 cì — nth; number (of times); order; sequence; next; second(ary)
这是我第一次来中国。Zhè shì wǒ dì yī cì lái Zhōng guó.This is my first time coming to China.
Common words: 下次 (xià cì)、上次 (shàng cì)、其次 (qí cì)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "order"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "order", including 次 (cì), 程 (chéng), 令 (lìng), 纪 (jì), 序 (xù), 秩 (zhì). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "order" covers 6 different Chinese characters — 次 (cì), 程 (chéng), 令 (lìng), 纪 (jì), 序 (xù), 秩 (zhì) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 6 characters do not share a sound — their readings span cì, chéng, lìng, jì, xù, zhì — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 次 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 次 cìnth; number (of times); order; sequence; next; second(ary)Useful words: 下次, 上次
- 程 chéngrule; order; regulations; formula; journey; procedureUseful words: 过程, 程度
- 令 lìngmake or cause to be; order; command; decree; honorableUseful words: 命令, 指令
- 纪 jìdiscipline; age; era; period; order; recordUseful words: 世纪, 纪念
- 序 xùorder; sequence; prefaceUseful words: 程序, 顺序
Common words for these 6 "order" characters
Anchor each of these 6 characters in a word you can picture — start with 次 (cì) — so "order" 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 6 ways to say "order".
程 chéng — rule; order; regulations; formula; journey; procedure
这门课程很有意思。Zhè mén kè chéng hěn yǒu yì si.This course is very interesting.
Common words: 过程 (guò chéng)、程度 (chéng dù)、课程 (kè chéng)
令 lìng — make or cause to be; order; command; decree; honorable
将军下令军队前进。Jiāng jūn xià lìng jūn duì qián jìn.The general ordered the troops to advance.
Common words: 命令 (mìng lìng)、指令 (zhǐ lìng)、司令 (sī lìng)
纪 jì — discipline; age; era; period; order; record
这座建筑有几个世纪的历史。Zhè zuò jiàn zhù yǒu jǐ ge shì jì de lì shǐ.This building has a history of several centuries.
Common words: 世纪 (shì jì)、纪念 (jì niàn)、年纪 (nián jì)
序 xù — order; sequence; preface
请按顺序排队进场。Qǐng àn shùn xù pái duì jìn chǎng.Please line up in order to enter.
Common words: 程序 (chéng xù)、顺序 (shùn xù)、秩序 (zhì xù)
秩 zhì — order; orderliness
同学们排好队，秩序井然地进入了会场。Tóng xué men pái hǎo duì, zhì xù jǐng rán de jìn rù le huì chǎng.The students lined up and entered the hall in an orderly manner.
Common words: 秩序 (zhì xù)、品秩 (pǐn zhì)、无秩序 (wú zhì xù)
All 6 characters
Open 次、程、令 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.