循 meaning and stroke order
To obey, to follow, to comply with
How to write 循, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 循
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) to follow; to act in accordance with
How 循 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Step.
彳 gives the meaning and 盾 hints at the sound.
Radical: 彳 (to step with the left foot), shared by 42 characters on this site.
How to remember 循
The left part 彳 means step, so 循 is about walking along a path. The right part 盾 (dùn, shield) gives the sound, so picture soldiers stepping in line behind their shields, following the leader.
循 is a bound form. It almost always appears inside words like 循环 (xúnhuán, to cycle) and 遵循 (zūnxún, to follow). Example: 我们要遵循这个原则。(Wǒmen yào zūnxún zhège yuánzé.) We should follow this principle.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 循 with 盾 (dùn, shield) or 遁 (dùn, to flee) because they share the same part. Remember that 循 has the step radical 彳 on the left and is read xún, not dùn.
Common words with 循
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 循环 | xúnhuán | to cycle; to circulate | HSK 6 |
| 遵循 | zūnxún | to follow; to abide by; to comply with | HSK 7-9 |
| 循序渐进 | xúnxù-jiànjìn | in sequence, step by step (idiom); to make steady progress incrementally | HSK 7-9 |
| 循规蹈矩 | xúnguīdǎojǔ | to follow the compass and go with the set square (idiom); to follow the rules inflexibly; | |
| 血液循环 | xuèyèxúnhuán | blood circulation |
循 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 循
How many strokes are in 循?
循 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 循 mean?
循 (xún) means to obey, to follow, to comply with. A common word with it is 循环 (xúnhuán), meaning "to cycle; to circulate".
How do you pronounce 循?
循 is pronounced xún, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 循?
The radical of 循 is 彳, which carries the idea of "to step with the left foot". Dictionaries list 循 under this radical.
Is 循 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 循 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can I use 循 by itself to mean follow?
Not in everyday speech. For simple following, use 跟 (gēn) or 跟着. 循 shows up in compounds and set phrases, which sound more formal or written.
What is the difference between 循环 and 遵循?
循环 means to go around in a cycle, as in 血液循环 (xuèyè xúnhuán, blood circulation). 遵循 means to abide by rules, principles, or instructions.