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顺应 (shùn yìng) — to adapt to; to conform to

Definition

顺应 is a formal verb meaning to adapt to or go along with something (trends, laws, majority views). It emphasizes yielding to an external force rather than matching a standard like 符合, or obeying authority like 服从.

verb
to adapt toto conform to

Examples

  • 顺应。
    Qǐ yè bì xū shùn yìng shì chǎng de biàn huà.
    Companies must adapt to changes in the market.
  • 顺应。
    Wǒ men yīng gāi shùn yìng zì rán guī lǜ.
    We should conform to the laws of nature.
  • 顺应。
    Zhè ge fāng àn shùn yìng le dà duō shù rén de yì jiàn.
    This plan aligns with the opinions of the majority.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

顺shùnfollow
应yìngrespond

顺 follow and 应 respond are parallel actions, giving the sense of adapting to something.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 順; 顺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yè
Sound part声符shēngfú
川
川chuān順shùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 順 pairs 川 (river), which gives the sound, with 頁 (head); the picture is a head in a river, following the current. The simplified 顺 is a shorthand.

Open 顺 →

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 應; 应 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
䧹
䧹䧹應yìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 應 pairs 心 (heart) with 䧹 as a sound part; the simplified 应 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the original components.

Open 应 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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