遵命 (zūn mìng) — to obey orders; to comply with a command (polit… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A very formal, archaic way to say 'I obey / at your command,' used mostly in wuxia or historical contexts by subordinates answering a superior. It is far more literary than everyday 听/听话.

verb

to obey ordersto comply with a command (polite/formal)

Examples

，遵命。
Qǐng fàng xīn, wǒ yí dìng zūn mìng.
Rest assured, I will obey your command.
。
Tā yǐ jīng zūn le nǐ de mìng.
He has already obeyed your order.
遵命，。
Shǔ xià zūn mìng, lì kè qù bàn.
Your subordinate obeys — I'll handle it immediately.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

命mìngcommand

Obey a command: 遵 is following, 命 the order.

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

辵辵chuòwalk

Sound part声符shēngfú

尊

尊zūn遵zūn

Same sound today

遵 shows 辵, “walk,” beside 尊, an offering of a vessel of wine; the respect in 尊 is linked to obeying.

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

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

令

令lìng命mìng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

命 combines 口, a mouth, with 令, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Greetings & Politeness 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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