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跟着 (gēn zhe) — to follow (physically or in sequence); to come after; (conjunction) following; after (indicating immediate sequence)

Definition

跟着 (gēn zhe) is a versatile verb and connector meaning 'to follow' — literally (follow a person/crowd/music) or as 'right after' linking two events.

verb
to follow (physically or in sequence)to come after
conjunction
followingafter (indicating immediate sequence)

Examples

  • 跟着。
    Tā gēn zhe rén qún màn màn wǎng qián zǒu.
    He followed the crowd and slowly walked forward.
  • ，跟着。
    Chī wán fàn yǐ hòu, gēn zhe jiù kāi huì le.
    After finishing dinner, we had a meeting right after.
  • 跟着。
    Qǐng gēn zhe yīn yuè jié zòu tiào wǔ.
    Please dance following the rhythm of the music.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

跟gēnfollow
着zhecontinuing state

跟 means follow and 着 shows the state continues, so the word means follow or along with.

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
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn跟gēn
Same sound today

跟 is built from 足 (foot) plus 艮. The 足 part ties the character to foot-related senses, while 艮 gives the sound.

Open 跟 →

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 →

Grammar

Appears in
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