秩序 (zhìxù)

秩序 refers to a state of orderly arrangement and proper functioning, whether in social conduct, public spaces, legal systems, or international relations.

Meanings

[noun] order; orderliness; social order; discipline

Example Sentences

维护公共秩序是每个公民的基本义务。 Wéihù gōnggòng zhìxù shì měi gè gōngmín de jīběn yìwù. Maintaining public order is a basic obligation of every citizen.

法律是保障社会秩序的重要工具。 Fǎlǜ shì bǎozhàng shèhuì zhìxù de zhòngyào gōngjù. Law is an important tool for ensuring social order.

演唱会现场的观众秩序井然，没有发生任何混乱。 Yǎnchànghui xiànchǎng de guānzhòng zhìxù jǐngrán, méiyǒu fāshēng rènhé hùnluàn. The audience at the concert site was in perfect order with no disorder occurring.

战争严重破坏了该地区的社会经济秩序。 Zhànzhēng yánzhòng pòhuài le gāi dìqū de shèhuì jīngjì zhìxù. The war seriously disrupted the socio-economic order of the region.

金融市场需要有效监管来维持正常的交易秩序。 Jīnróng shìchǎng xūyào yǒuxiào jiānguǎn lái wéichí zhèngcháng de jiāoyì zhìxù. Financial markets need effective regulation to maintain normal trading order.

国际社会正在努力构建更公正合理的世界秩序。 Guójì shèhuì zhèngzài nǔlì gòujiàn gèng gōngzhèng hélǐ de shìjiè zhìxù. The international community is working to build a more just and rational world order.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
社会秩序 (shèhuì zhìxù)	social order
维护秩序 (wéihù zhìxù)	to maintain order
破坏秩序 (pòhuài zhìxù)	to disrupt order
秩序井然 (zhìxù jǐngrán)	in perfect order
公共秩序 (gōnggòng zhìxù)	public order
世界秩序 (shìjiè zhìxù)	world order

Usage Notes

秩序 denotes orderliness as a state or quality, not as an individual act. It is a formal noun used in political, legal, and social contexts. The opposite is 混乱 (hùnluàn, chaos/disorder).

The phrase 秩序井然 (in perfect order) is a common four-character idiom expressing a scene that is orderly and disciplined. In formal writing, 秩序 often appears in contexts discussing governance, rule of law, and social stability.

Memory Hook

秩 (orderly/graded) + 序 (sequence/order) -- an orderly sequence -- order; social order.