主从 (zhǔ cōng) — principal and subordinate; master and servant (relationship)

Definition

A paired noun describing a hierarchical 'master–subordinate' or 'primary–secondary' relationship (e.g. 主从关系), used for social structure or technical control modes.

noun
principal and subordinatemaster and servant (relationship)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，主从。
    Zài zhè ge gōng sī lǐ, zhǔ cōng guān xì fēi cháng míng què.
    In this company, the principal-subordinate relationship is very clear.
  • ，主从。
    Gǔ dài shè huì zhōng, zhǔ cōng guān xì shì jī běn de shè huì jié gòu.
    In ancient society, the master-servant relationship was a basic social structure.
  • 主从。
    Zhè zhǒng shè bèi cǎi yòng zhǔ cōng kòng zhì mó shì.
    This device uses a master-slave control mode.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

主zhǔmaster
从cóngfollower

主 and 从 stand side by side, naming the leading and following roles.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 從; 从 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
从
从cóng從cóng
Same sound today

The traditional form 從 pairs 辵 (walk) with 从, which gives the sound; the character was originally written 从.

Open 从 →

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