排序 (pái xù) — to sort; to order; to rank | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A more formal, written word for arranging items in a particular order (alphabetical, numerical, by rank). Common in technical and data contexts like 排序算法 and 数据库排序.

verb

to sortto orderto rank

Examples

排序。
Qǐng bǎ zhè xiē wén jiàn àn zì mǔ shùn xù pái xù.
Please sort these files alphabetically.
。
Shù jù kù yǐ jīng pái hǎo xù le.
The database has already been sorted.
。
Wǒ men duì jié guǒ pái le yí cì xù.
We sorted the results once.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

排páiarrange

排 means arrange and 序 means order, so it means to put things in order.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

扌非排

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

非

非fēi排pái

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

排 uses 扌 (hand) to show arranging something with the hand, and 非 for the sound; this gives the sense of placing things in a line.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

广予序

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

予

予yǔ序xù

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

序 combines 广 and 予; 予 gives the sound, while 广 marks the meaning.

Appears in

Computers & Internet Order & Arrangement

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