從 meaning and stroke order
From, by, since, whence, through
How to write 從, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
Meaning of 從
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- from; through; via
- (bound form) to follow
- (bound form) to obey
- (bound form) to engage in (an activity)
- (used before a negative) ever
- (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zong4]) retainer; attendant
How 從 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Step.
彳 gives the meaning and 从 hints at the sound.
Radical: 彳 (to step with the left foot), shared by 42 characters on this site.
How to remember 從
Picture two people walking one behind the other, 从, with a foot 足 on the step 彳 beside them. One person follows the other step by step, which gives the ideas of following and coming from somewhere.
從 (cóng) is the traditional form of 从 and is mostly used as a preposition meaning "from" for places, times, and starting points, often paired with 到 (dào) "to". Example: 我從台北到香港。(Wǒ cóng Táiběi dào Xiānggǎng.) I am going from Taipei to Hong Kong.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 從 with 徒 (tú, apprentice), which also has 彳 on the left but has 走 on the right and no two-person part. Also note that 從來 (cónglái) before a negative means "never", as in 從來不 (cónglái bù), not "always".
Common words with 從
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 從小 | cóngxiǎo | from childhood; from a young age | HSK 2 |
| 從來 | cónglái | always; at all times | HSK 3 |
| 自從 | zìcóng | since (a time); ever since | HSK 3 |
| 從前 | cóngqián | previously; formerly | HSK 3 |
| 從事 | cóngshì | to go for; to engage in | HSK 3 |
| 從此 | cóngcǐ | from now on; since then | HSK 4 |
| 服從 | fúcóng | to obey (an order); to comply | HSK 5 |
| 從中 | cóngzhōng | from among them; from it | HSK 5 |
| 從而 | cóng'ér | thus; thereby | HSK 5 |
| 從沒 | cóng méi | never (in the past); never did | HSK 6 |
| 從不 | cóng bù | never | HSK 6 |
| 從未 | cóngwèi | never | HSK 7-9 |
| 從來不 | cónglái bù | never | HSK 7-9 |
| 聽從 | tīngcóng | to listen and obey; to comply with | HSK 7-9 |
Characters that contain 從
Learning 從 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 從
How many strokes are in 從?
從 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 從 mean?
從 (cóng) means from, by, since, whence, through. A common word with it is 从小 (cóngxiǎo), meaning "from childhood; from a young age".
How do you pronounce 從?
從 is pronounced cóng, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 從?
The radical of 從 is 彳, which carries the idea of "to step with the left foot". Dictionaries list 從 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 從?
從 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 从, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 從 and 自從?
從 is a general "from" for places, times, and sources. 自從 (zìcóng) only refers to a past point in time and means "ever since", as in 自從他來了 (zìcóng tā lái le) "ever since he came".
Is 從 ever pronounced zòng?
In the sense of a retainer or attendant, Taiwan pronunciation uses zòng. In everyday words like 從來 and 從小, it is always cóng.