行列 hángliè formation
formation; array; (figuratively) ranks (as in "join the ranks of ...")
How to remember 行列: 行 go + 列 line up = formation.
Characters
How it is used
- Literally a row/formation, but idiomatically 'the ranks' - 加入…的行列 (jiārù …de hángliè) join the ranks of.
- 行 is read háng here (a row/line), not xíng.
- Formal-ish; used to mean becoming part of a group or category.