in order

JLPT N5 10 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Usage of (āi)

The character is commonly used to express the idea of doing something "in order" or "one after another." It often appears in phrases like (āi gè), meaning "one by one," which is useful when describing sequential actions such as checking items or lining up.

Another important use of is to indicate proximity, often combined with the particle (zhe) as , meaning "next to" or "beside." This usage describes physical closeness, such as sitting next to a window.

Common Collocations

  • (āi gè): one by one, used for sequential actions.
  • (āizhe): next to, indicating physical adjacency.

Notes

is more formal and less common in everyday speech compared to simpler words like 依次 (yīcì) for "in order" or 旁边 (pángbiān) for "beside." However, it is frequently seen in written Chinese and formal contexts. Avoid confusing (physical closeness) with (sequential order), as they serve different functions.

Example Sentences

We checked all the equipment one by one to make sure there were no problems.

He sat next to the window, enjoying the sunlight.

The children lined up one after another, ready to enter the classroom.