Understanding a Versatile Chinese Character：Why “行-xíng\háng” Can Mean So Many Things

*[Section 1: Measure Word]*
First, this character can be used as a measure word. For example:
yì háng háng liǔ shù.
一行行柳树。
- Rows of willow trees.

nǐ kàn zhè háng zì, néng dú gěi wǒ tīng ma?
你看这行字，能读给我听吗？
- Look at this line of text, can you read it to me?

tā liú xià le liǎng háng lèi.
他流下了两行泪。
- He shed two lines of tears.

*[Section 2: Ranking]*
Second, it means ranking or position. For example:
wǒ zài jiā lǐ pái háng lǎo sān.
我在家里排行老三。
- In a family with three children, if I am the third, I say I'm ranked third.

zhè cì kǎo shì de pái háng bǎng chū lái le, wǒ dì yī.
这次考试的排行榜出来了，我第一。
- The rankings for this exam are out, and I came first.

zuì xīn de yīn yuè pái háng bǎng nǐ tīng le ma?
wǒ bù tīng pái háng de, wǒ zhǐ tīng xiǎo zhòng de gē shǒu.
最新的音乐排行榜你听了吗？我不听排行的，我只听小众的歌手。
- Have you listened to the latest music charts? I prefer indie artists.

*[Section 3: Industry]*
Third, it signifies industry or profession. For example:
wǒ hé tā shì tóng háng.
我和他是同行。
- He and I are colleagues in the same industry.

wǒ men zài tóng yí gè háng yè.
我们在同一个行业。
- Our companies engage in similar business activities.

*[Section 4: Expert and Knowledgeable]*
Next, it means being an expert or knowledgeable in a field:
gāng qín tiáo yīn zhè zhǒng shì, tā hěn zài háng.
钢琴调音这种事，他很在行。
- He is very skilled in piano tuning.

zuò le shí nián de lǎo shī, tā jiāo xiǎo péng yǒu hěn zài háng de.
做了十年的老师，他教小朋友很在行的。
- Having taught for ten years, he is very good at teaching children.

nǐ zhēn dǒng háng, nǐ yì lái wèn tí jiù jiě jué le.
你真懂行，你一来问题就解决了。
- You really know your stuff; you solved the problem as soon as you came.

*[Section 5: Walking]*
The character also means to walk:
zhí xíng, qián xíng, cùn bù nán xíng.
直行、前行、寸步难行。
- Walk straight, go forward, unable to take a step.

lù shàng de bān mǎ xiàn, jiù shì rén xíng héng dào.
路上的斑马线，就是人行横道。
- The pedestrian crossing on the road is called a zebra crossing.

*[Section 6: Agreement]*
It also indicates agreement, similar to saying "okay":
xíng, jiù àn nǐ shuō de bàn.
行，就按你说的办。
- Okay, let's do it your way.

jīn tiān nǐ néng lái jiē wǒ xià bān ma?
今天你能来接我下班吗？
xíng a, nǐ jǐ diǎn xià bān.
行啊，你几点下班。
- Can you pick me up after work today?
Sure, what time do you finish?

*[Section 7: Praise and Mocking]*
It can be used to praise someone for being impressive or capable:
nǐ zhēn xíng
- 你真行。
- Wow, you are really something.
But be careful, in daily life, it’s often used to mock someone who did something silly.

*[Section 8: Performing an Activity]*
Finally, it can mean to engage in a certain activity:
xíng yī, xíng shàn.
行医，行善。
- To practice medicine, to do good deeds.

tā shuō bāng zhù bié rén, jiù shì zài xíng shàn, bù qiú huí bào.
他说帮助别人，就是在行善，不求回报。
- Helping others is doing good deeds without expecting anything in return.