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听从 (tīng cóng) — to comply with; to follow (advice, orders, instructions)

Definition

听从 pairs 听 with 从 (obey): 'to comply with / follow' orders, advice, or instructions. Synonym 顺从 stresses passive submission; 听从 implies active acceptance of guidance.

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

Examples

  • 听从。
    Nǐ bì xū tīng cóng shàng jí de mìng lìng.
    You must follow the orders of your superiors.
  • 听从。
    Tā jué dìng tīng cóng fù mǔ de quàn gào.
    She decided to heed her parents' advice.
  • 听从。
    Jǐng chá yāo qiú suǒ yǒu rén tīng cóng zhǐ huī.
    The police demanded that everyone follow the instructions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

听tīnglisten
从cóngfollow

'听' listen and '从' follow combine for obeying.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 聽; 听 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 聽 has 耳 (ear) and 口 (mouth), used for listening; the simplified 听 is a later shortened form unrelated to that picture.

Open 听 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Communication & Speech

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