盲从 (máng cóng) — to follow blindly; to obey without thinking

Definition

盲从 means 'to follow blindly' — going along with others without thinking or judging for yourself. It is a negative, often written-style word (unlike neutral 跟随), and pairs with nouns like 权威, 别人, 潮流 to criticize passive conformity.

verb
to follow blindlyto obey without thinking

Examples

  • 盲从，。
    Nián qīng rén bú yīng gāi máng cóng quán wēi, yào yǒu zì jǐ de pàn duàn.
    Young people should not blindly follow authority; they should have their own judgment.
  • 盲从，。
    Tā zǒng shì máng cóng liú xíng qū shì, cóng bù kǎo lǜ shì fǒu shì hé zì jǐ.
    She always blindly follows fashion trends without considering whether they suit her.
  • ，盲从。
    Zuò jué dìng shí yào dú lì sī kǎo, bú yào máng cóng bié rén de yì jiàn.
    When making decisions, think independently and don't blindly follow others' opinions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

盲mángblind
从cóngfollow

盲从 is to 从 without thought, as if blind.

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
目目mùeye
Sound part声符shēngfú
亡
亡wáng盲máng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

盲 is made from 目, meaning “eye”, plus 亡, which gives the sound. The eye part relates to the meaning of blindness.

Open 盲 →

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 →

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