Japanese symbol for “file”
列
れつ
Romaji: retsu
row; line; file; column
In Japanese, file is 列, read れつ (retsu).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n row; line; file; column; queue; rank
- n group (of peers); ranks (of); company (of)
- n sequence (math)
- n series (taxonomic rank) (bot)
- ctr counter for rows
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “file”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ファイル | ファイル fairu | file (for holding papers) |
| 擦る | する suru | to rub; to chafe; to strike (match) |
| 綴り | つづり tsuzuri | file; pad; bundle |
| 隊列 | たいれつ tairetsu | rank (of troops); file; column |
| 綴じ込み | とじこみ tojikomi | file (for holding papers) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 列車 | れっしゃ ressha | train; railway train |
| 系列 | けいれつ keiretsu | series; sequence; system |
| 行列 | ぎょうれつ gyouretsu | line; queue; procession |
| 列島 | れっとう rettou | archipelago; chain of islands |
| 配列 | はいれつ hairetsu | arranging; ordering; sequencing |
| 陳列 | ちんれつ chinretsu | exhibition; display; putting on show |
See also: Chinese symbol for “file”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.