How to Write 队 (duì) — Meaning “team; line; queue”

Imagine a person (人) standing on a small hill (阝) and forming a single-file line. This visual helps you remember that 队 means both a team and a queue.

Write the left ear 阝 first — it is narrow and tall. Then write the person 人, making it wider and balanced. A common mistake is to let the left stroke of 人 cross into the vertical line of 阝.

队 has the 阝 radical on the left, while 邓 and 邗 have 阝 on the right. Also, 队 means team or line, whereas 邓 is a surname and 邗 is a place name, so their meanings and usage are completely different.

You often see 队 in words like 排队 (to line up), 队长 (team leader), and 队伍 (a group or procession). In Chinese culture, 排队 is a common polite behavior in public places, and 少先队 refers to the Young Pioneers, a youth organization.

Common words containing 队 include: 排队 (pái duì) — to line up or queue; 队长 (duì zhǎng) — team leader; captain; 队伍 (duì wǔ) — ranks; procession; team.