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顺其自然 (shùn qí zì rán) — to let things take their natural course; to go with the flow (idiom, accepting what cannot be changed)

Definition

顺其自然 is a chengyu meaning to accept what can't be changed and let things unfold on their own. Unlike 自然而然, which describes a process happening naturally and automatically, 顺其自然 is a deliberate choice to stop forcing things.

phrase
to let things take their natural courseto go with the flow (idiom, accepting what cannot be changed)

Examples

  • ，顺其自然。
    Jì rán yǐ jīng jìn lì le, shèng xià de jiù shùn qí zì rán ba.
    Since you've already done your best, just let nature take its course for the rest.
  • ，顺其自然。
    Gǎn qíng de shì qing jí bù lái, zuì hǎo shùn qí zì rán.
    You can't rush matters of the heart; it's best to let things take their natural course.
  • ，顺其自然。
    Miàn duì rén shēng zhōng de qǐ qǐ luò luò, xué huì shùn qí zì rán shì yì zhǒng zhì huì.
    Facing life's ups and downs, learning to go with the flow is a form of wisdom.

Origin

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 順; 顺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yè
Sound part声符shēngfú
川
川chuān順shùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 順 pairs 川 (river), which gives the sound, with 頁 (head); the picture is a head in a river, following the current. The simplified 顺 is a shorthand.

Open 顺 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The modern form 其 comes from an early drawing of a basket, with a stand added underneath.

Open 其 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Idioms & Set Phrases

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