井然有序 (jǐng rán yǒu xù) — orderly, in good order, well-organized

Definition

A formal written idiom meaning 'in perfect order, well-organized' — stronger and more literary than plain 有序, often used to praise systems, arrangements, or events.

idiom

orderlyin good orderwell-organized

Examples

井然有序。
Tā de shū zhuō zǒng shì shōu shi dé jǐng rán yǒu xù.
His desk is always kept in order.
井然有序，。
Zhěng gè huì yì jìn xíng dé jǐng rán yǒu xù, méi yǒu chū xiàn rèn hé wèn tí.
The entire meeting proceeded in an orderly manner without any issues.
井然有序，。
Tú shū guǎn lǐ de shū bǎi fàng dé jǐng rán yǒu xù, hěn róng yì zhǎo dào.
The books in the library are arranged neatly, making them easy to find.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 井 draws a square well with supports on four sides.

Open 井 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú

火火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

肰

肰rán然rán

Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú

肉肉ròumeat

Sound part声符shēngfú

又

又yòu有yǒu

Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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

广广guǎng

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.

Open 序 →

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