遵从 (zūn cóng) — to comply with, to follow (rules, orders, advice)

Definition

verb
to comply withto follow (rules, orders, advice)

Examples

  • 遵从。
    Měi gè rén dōu yīng gāi zūn cóng fǎ lǜ.
    Everyone should comply with the law.
  • 遵从，。
    Tā zūn cóng le yī shēng de jiàn yì, kāi shǐ duàn liàn.
    He followed the doctor's advice and started exercising.
  • 遵从。
    Gōng sī yāo qiú yuán gōng yán gé zūn cóng ān quán guī chéng.
    The company requires employees to strictly comply with safety regulations.

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.

遵zūnobey
从cóngfollow

遵 and 从 both carry the sense of following or obeying, so the sense is complying with rules, orders, or advice.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
尊
尊zūn遵zūn
Same sound today

遵 shows 辵, “walk,” beside 尊, an offering of a vessel of wine; the respect in 尊 is linked to obeying.

Open 遵 →

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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