设 shè — to set up; to arrange; to establish; to found; to display
学校设有一个图书馆。Xué xiào shè yǒu yí ge tú shū guǎn.The school has a library.
Common words: 设计 (shè jì)、设备 (shè bèi)、建设 (jiàn shè)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to arrange"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to arrange", including 设 (shè), 约 (yuē / yāo), 列 (liè), 顺 (shùn). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to arrange" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 设 (shè), 约 (yuē / yāo), 列 (liè), 顺 (shùn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span shè, yuē, yāo, liè, shùn — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 设 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 设 shèto set up; to arrange; to establish; to found; to displayUseful words: 设计, 设备
- 约 yuē / yāoweigh; appointment; agreement; to arrange; to restrict; approximatelyUseful words: 大约, 节约
- 列 lièto arrange; to line up; row; file; seriesUseful words: 系列, 列车
- 顺 shùnto obey; to follow; to arrange; to make reasonable; along; favorableUseful words: 顺利, 一路顺风
Common words for these 4 "to arrange" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 设 (shè) — so "to arrange" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
设计shè jìto design; to plan; design; plan设备shè bèiequipment; facilities; installations建设jiàn shèto build; to construct; to establish; to develop大约dà yuēapproximately; probably节约jié yuēto economize; to conserve (resources); economy; frugal约会yuē huìappointment; engagement; date; to arrange to meet系列xì lièseries; set列车liè chē(railway) train列入liè rùto include on a list顺利shùn lìsmoothly; without a hitch
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 4 ways to say "to arrange".
约 yuē / yāo — weigh; appointment; agreement; to arrange; to restrict; approximately
我和朋友约好周末见面。Wǒ hé péng you yuē hǎo zhōu mò jiàn miàn.My friend and I arranged to meet at the weekend.
Common words: 大约 (dà yuē)、节约 (jié yuē)、约会 (yuē huì)
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)
顺 shùn — to obey; to follow; to arrange; to make reasonable; along; favorable
祝你一路顺风！Zhù nǐ yí lù shùn fēng!Have a pleasant journey!
Common words: 顺利 (shùn lì)、一路顺风 (yī lù shùn fēng)、顺便 (shùn biàn)
All 4 characters
Open 设、约、列 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.