随 meaning and stroke order
To follow; to comply with; varying according to...
How to write 随, 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.
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- 11
Meaning of 随
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to follow
- to comply with
- varying according to...
- to allow
- subsequently
How 随 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To walk 迶 to the city 阝; to follow a path.
Radical: 阝 (place), shared by 160 characters on this site.
How to remember 随
The left side 阝 stands for a city, and the right side 迶 shows walking along a road. Picture someone walking the path toward the city behind a guide, and you have 随 (suí), to follow.
随 rarely stands alone in speech. It mostly appears in words like 随便 (suíbiàn), 随时 (suíshí) and 随着 (suízhe). Example: 你随时可以给我打电话。(Nǐ suíshí kěyǐ gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.) You can call me at any time.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 随 (suí) with 堕 (duò) or with 遂 (suì), which looks similar and has a fourth tone. Remember that 随 has a rising second tone.
Common words with 随
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 随便 | suíbiàn | as one wishes; as one pleases | HSK 2 |
| 随时 | suíshí | at any time; at all times; at the right time; whenever necessary | HSK 2 |
| 随手 | suíshǒu | conveniently; without extra trouble | HSK 4 |
| 随着 | suízhe | along with; in the wake of | HSK 5 |
| 随意 | suíyì | as one wishes; according to one's wishes | HSK 5 |
| 跟随 | gēnsuí | to follow | HSK 5 |
| 随后 | suíhòu | afterward; later; subsequently; following that | HSK 5 |
| 追随 | zhuīsuí | to follow; to accompany | HSK 7-9 |
| 伴随 | bànsuí | to accompany; to follow | HSK 7-9 |
| 随机 | suíjī | according to the situation; pragmatic | HSK 7-9 |
| 随心所欲 | suíxīnsuǒyù | (idiom) to follow one's heart's desires; to do as one pleases | HSK 7-9 |
| 随时随地 | suíshí-suídì | anytime and anywhere | HSK 7-9 |
| 随身 | suíshēn | to (carry) on one's person; to (take) with one | HSK 7-9 |
| 随处可见 | suíchù kě jiàn | can be seen everywhere | HSK 7-9 |
随 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 随
How many strokes are in 随?
随 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 随 mean?
随 (suí) means to follow; to comply with; varying according to.... A common word with it is 随便 (suíbiàn), meaning "as one wishes; as one pleases".
How do you pronounce 随?
随 is pronounced suí, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 随?
The radical of 随 is 阝, which carries the idea of "place". Dictionaries list 随 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 随?
The traditional form of 随 is 隨. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 随 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 随 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 随 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
Is 随便 (suíbiàn) rude to say?
It can be. Answering a question with just 随便 can sound careless, like you do not care. Saying 都可以 (dōu kěyǐ) or 你决定吧 (nǐ juédìng ba) sounds softer.
What is the difference between 随着 (suízhe) and 跟随 (gēnsuí)?
随着 usually means 'along with' or 'as something changes', as in 随着时间 (suízhe shíjiān), as time goes on. 跟随 means physically or loyally following a person, as in 跟随老师 (gēnsuí lǎoshī), to follow the teacher.