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遵循 (zūn xún) — to follow, to abide by, to comply with

Definition

A formal written verb meaning 'to follow / abide by' (rules, principles, laws). Pairs with abstract norms — less casual than 随, more standard than 遵照.

verb
to followto abide byto comply with

Examples

  • 遵循。
    Wǒ men yīng dāng yán gé zūn xún jiāo tōng guī zé.
    We should strictly follow traffic rules.
  • 遵循。
    Qǐ yè bì xū zūn xún guó jiā de fǎ lǜ fǎ guī.
    Companies must abide by national laws and regulations.
  • 遵循。
    Tā yì zhí zūn xún zì jǐ de yuán zé shēng huó.
    She has always lived according to her own principles.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

遵zūnfollow; obey
循xúnfollow; comply

Both 遵 and 循 mean follow or obey, so together they stress compliance with rules or principles.

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.

Open 遵 →

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
彳彳chìmovement
Sound part声符shēngfú
盾
盾dùn循xún
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

循 has 彳 on the left, a part used for movement, and 盾 on the right, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 循 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Order & Arrangement

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