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服从 (fú cóng) — to obey, to comply (with orders, rules, or authority)

Definition

服从 means to submit to and carry out an order or rule — stronger and more formal than 顺从 (passive acceptance) and 照办 (just doing as told). Often used with authority: 命令, 指示, 规定.

verb
to obeyto comply (with orders, rules, or authority)

Examples

  • 服从。
    Tā bì xū fú cóng shàng jí de zhǐ shì.
    He must obey the instructions from his superiors.
  • 服从。
    Suǒ yǒu yuán gōng dōu yào fú cóng gōng sī guī dìng.
    All employees must comply with company regulations.
  • 服从。
    Shì bīng bì xū fú cóng mìng lìng.
    Soldiers must obey orders.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

服fúobey
从cóngfollow

服 and 从 both mean to submit or follow, together expressing compliance with orders.

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
凡凡fántray
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬝
𠬝𠬝服fú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 服, the part 𠬝 was the original picture for 'to subdue'; the added left part 凡, a tray, later changed shape.

Open 服 →

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
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