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顺着 (shùn zhe) — (preposition) along, following (a path, direction, etc.); (verb phrase) to follow, to go along with (someone's idea, words, etc.)

Definition

顺着 is a preposition meaning 'along / following' a path, direction, or line (顺着这条路). It also covers going along with someone's idea or continuing a topic.

preposition
alongfollowing (a path, direction, etc.)
verb
(verb phrase) to followto go along with (someone's idea, words, etc.)

Examples

  • 顺着。
    shùn zhe Zhè tiáo lù yì zhí zǒu jiù dào le.
    Go straight along this road and you'll arrive.
  • 顺着。
    Nǐ zuì hǎo shùn zhe tā de yì si zuò.
    You'd better follow his wishes.
  • 顺着。
    Wǒ men shùn zhe zhè ge huà tí jì xù liáo xià qù.
    Let's keep talking along this topic.

Origin

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 著; 着 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艸艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě著zháo
Same sound today

The traditional form 著 puts 艸 (grass; plant) above 者, which gives the sound; the simplified 着 is a later shorthand.

Open 着 →
Appears in
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