‘编队’ literally means ‘to compile a team/formation’ — ‘编’ (biān) means ‘to arrange, organize, or compile’, and ‘队’ (duì) means ‘team, squad, or formation’. Together, they describe the act of arranging people, vehicles, aircraft, or vessels into an organized, coordinated formation, typically for operational, ceremonial, or safety purposes. It emphasizes intentional grouping with specific spatial relationships and shared movement.

This term is most commonly used in military, aviation, maritime, and parade contexts — for example, fighter jets flying in tight formation during an air show, naval ships sailing in sequence, or soldiers lining up before a ceremony. While it can occasionally appear in sports or performance choreography, it carries a formal, structured connotation and is rarely used for casual groupings like friends meeting up or animals gathering naturally.