遵行 (zūn xíng) — to follow (rules, orders, principles); to act on

Definition

Formal verb meaning 'to follow / act on' a rule, order, or principle. More bookish than 遵守 and stresses actually carrying something out, not just observing it.

verb
to follow (rules, orders, principles)to act on

Examples

  • 遵行。
    Wǒ men yīng dāng yán gé zūn xíng guī dìng.
    We should strictly follow the regulations.
  • 遵行。
    Tā yì shēng dōu zūn xíng zì jǐ de xìn niàn.
    He followed his own beliefs all his life.
  • 遵行。
    Jūn duì bì xū zūn xíng mìng lìng.
    The army must follow orders.

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zūnfollow
行xíngcarry out

遵 means follow and 行 means carry out.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 彳彳chì
  • 亍亍chù

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

Open 行 →

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