遵 meaning and stroke order
To follow, to comply with; to honor
How to write 遵, stroke by stroke
15 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 遵
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to observe
- to obey
- to follow
- to comply with
How 遵 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To follow 辶 or honor 尊 someone; 尊 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 辶 (to walk), shared by 131 characters on this site.
How to remember 遵
遵 combines 辶 (walking) with 尊 (zūn, to honor). You walk along the path set by someone you honor, so you follow and obey, and 尊 also gives the sound zūn.
遵 rarely stands alone in modern Chinese. It appears in formal words like 遵守 (zūnshǒu, to abide by) and 遵循 (zūnxún, to follow). Example: 请遵守交通规则。(Qǐng zūnshǒu jiāotōng guīzé.) Please obey the traffic rules.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 遵 (zūn, to follow) with 尊 (zūn, to respect), since they sound the same. If the meaning involves obeying rules or instructions, use the version with 辶, as in 遵守, not 尊守.
Common words with 遵
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 遵守 | zūnshǒu | to comply with; to abide by; to respect (an agreement) | HSK 5 |
| 遵循 | zūnxún | to follow; to abide by; to comply with | HSK 7-9 |
| 遵照 | zūnzhào | in accordance with; to follow (the rules) | HSK 7-9 |
| 遵命 | zūnmìng | to follow your orders; to do as you bid | |
| 遵从 | zūncóng | to comply with; to follow (directives); to defer to (the judgment of superiors) |
遵 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 遵
How many strokes are in 遵?
遵 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 遵 mean?
遵 (zūn) means to follow, to comply with; to honor. A common word with it is 遵守 (zūnshǒu), meaning "to comply with; to abide by; to respect (an agreement)".
How do you pronounce 遵?
遵 is pronounced zūn, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 遵?
The radical of 遵 is 辶, which carries the idea of "to walk". Dictionaries list 遵 under this radical.
Is 遵 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 遵 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 遵守 and 遵循?
遵守 (zūnshǒu) is used with concrete rules, laws, and agreements, like 遵守法律. 遵循 (zūnxún) is used with principles, methods, or patterns, like 遵循原则.
Can 遵命 be used in everyday conversation?
遵命 (zūnmìng) sounds old-fashioned, like a servant answering a master. Today people mostly say it jokingly, for example when a friend gives you a playful order.