並 means “line up, row, ordinary”

ならぶ · narabu

Also: and, besides, as well as

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

なみ, ならべる, ならぶ, ならびに

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ヘイ, ホウ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 6 · 8 strokes

The story

Two people standing (立) side by side, merged into one: the old form 竝 shows it clearly. 並ぶ is to line up, as crowds do outside a famous ramen shop, and 並 on a beef bowl menu is the regular size, 並盛.

Used in 並ぶ (narabu, to line up), 並べる (naraberu, to arrange), and 並木 (namiki, row of trees)

More from The Order of Things

• 逆 reverse
• 久 long time
• 停 stop
• 順 order
• 了 finish
• 永 eternity
• 複 multiple
• 翌 next
• 補 supplement
• 旧 former

Learn 並 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.