How to Say "Line" in Japanese

線

[sẽ̞ɴ]

The Japanese word for a single horizontal row of text or a drawn line is 線.

線 is used to describe geometric lines, lines that are drawn or boundaries. It is not used to describe a queue of people.

Meaning: single horizontal row of text on a screen, printed paper, etc. (noun)

Which one should you use?

While 線 refers to a drawn or geometric line, the word 列 is used when you mean a line of people or a row of objects.

If you want to express the action of placing objects into a line, use the verb 並べる.

If a line is very thin or fine, such as a hair, Japanese uses the word 筋, which can also mean a 'muscle' or 'sinew'.
To describe a 'deadline', Japanese uses 締め切り, which avoids the word 線 entirely. Instead of a 'line' that cannot be crossed, it uses a term meaning 'to shut' or 'close'.
In Japanese, the word for a 'line' of text or a line of poetry is sometimes referred to as 行, which is also the word for 'to go'.

直線を引きなさい。
Draw a straight line.
This example is useful for learning how to use 線 when talking about drawing a straight line.
Tatoeba #125739 by small_snow, translation #278252 by SUZIE
定規で線を書いて。
Draw a line with a ruler.
This example shows how to use 線 in the context of using a ruler.
Tatoeba #11351735 by small_snow, translation #2985703 by sharptoothed
紙に線を引きなさい。
Draw a line on the paper.
This example demonstrates using 線 when drawing on paper.
Tatoeba #151211 by small_snow, translation #263344 by CK
「この線を引いてください。」
Please draw this line.
「サッカーコートのラインを引く必要があります。」
You need to draw the lines on the soccer field.
「新しい線路が建設されました。」
A new train line has been constructed.
「店の前に長い列ができている。」
There is a long line in front of the store.
30 more sentences on Tatoeba

Misaki and Hiroto are checking a document together.

陽葵 Himari

この線から読み始めてください。
Kono sen kara yomihajimete kudasai.
Please start reading from this line.
蓮 Ren

わかりました。ここからですね。
Wakarimashita. Koko kara desu ne.
I understand. It's from here, right?
陽葵 Himari

はい。次の線まで読んでください。
Hai. Tsugi no sen made yonde kudasai.
Yes. Please read until the next line.
蓮 Ren

了解です。読みますね。
Ryōkai desu. Yomimasu ne.
Got it. I'll read it.

Sources

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