秩序井然 (zhì xù jǐng rán) — neat and orderly; in perfect order

Definition

Written chengyu meaning 'in perfect order' — describes a place, system, or arrangement that is highly organized, stronger than plain 有条理.

idiom
neat and orderlyin perfect order

Examples

  • 秩序井然，。
    Dà huì xiàn chǎng zhì xù jǐng rán, dài biǎo men ān jìng dì zuò zài zuò wèi shàng.
    The conference venue was in perfect order, and the delegates sat quietly in their seats.
  • 秩序井然，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī de guǎn lǐ zhì xù jǐng rán, yuán gōng gōng zuò qǐ lái fēi cháng gāo xiào.
    This company's management is very orderly, and the employees work very efficiently.
  • 秩序井然，。
    Tú shū guǎn lǐ shū jià bǎi fàng dé zhì xù jǐng rán, zhǎo shū tè bié fāng biàn.
    The bookshelves in the library are arranged in perfect order, making it especially convenient to find books.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
主谓zhǔwèiSubject + predicate

A small sentence frozen into a word: something, and what it does or is.

秩序order
秩zhìorder序xùsequence
联合Side by side
井然orderly
井jǐngorderly然rán-ly
后缀Suffix

秩序 names order, and 井然 shows it as neatly arranged.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hégrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
失
失shī秩zhì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

秩 pairs 禾 (grain) with 失 giving the sound. The grain part is linked to rice plants piled up in order, giving the idea of sequence.

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
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 →

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 →

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