Meanings and Usage
The character 行 (háng) primarily means "row" or "line" when referring to text or data, such as in a table or spreadsheet. It also commonly refers to an "industry" or "business sector," which is a very frequent usage in everyday and professional contexts.
Common Collocations
- 第X行 (dì X háng): the Xth row, used when specifying rows in documents or forms.
- 行业 (hángyè): industry or business sector, a key term in economics and business.
- 银行业 (yínháng yè): banking industry, a common compound.
Usage Notes
When used to mean "row," 行 is often paired with numbers to indicate position, especially in written or tabular data. When referring to industries, it is combined with other characters to specify the sector. This character should not be confused with 行 (xíng), which can mean "to walk" or "to do," though they share the same character but differ in pronunciation and meaning.
Register and Tone
The use of 行 (háng) in the sense of "industry" is formal and common in business and academic contexts. The "row" meaning is neutral and used in everyday language.
Common Confusion
行 can be pronounced as háng or xíng with different meanings. Here, focus on the háng pronunciation meaning "row" or "industry." Avoid mixing with xíng which has different uses.