列 (liè)

to arrange; to line up; file; series; (in data tables) column; (Tw) ro

Etymology

Depicts breaking apart bones (歹) using a knife (刂). 歹 also represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "break apart". The meaning later shifted to "arrange in order" and "list".

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“列,分解也。从刀,聲。”

Original meaning

break apart

Components