从 (cóng) — (preposition) from (marks a starting point in space, time, or a range); (adverb) never (used before a negative to emphasize that something has never happened)
Definition
As a preposition, 从 marks a starting point in space or time ('from'), more general than 由 (which often marks the agent or decision-maker). As an adverb, 从 + negative means 'never' — similar in meaning to 从未/不曾 but simpler and HSK-2 level.
preposition
from (marks a starting point in space, time, or a range)
adverb
never (used before a negative to emphasize that something has never happened)
Examples
- 。Tā cóng jiā zǒu dào xué xiào.He walks from home to school.
- 。Wǒ cóng jīn tiān kāi shǐ xué zhōng wén.I start learning Chinese from today.
- 。Wǒ cóng bù chí dào.I am never late.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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
The traditional form 從 pairs 辵 (walk) with 从, which gives the sound; the character was originally written 从.
Grammar
Appears in
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