顺 meaning and stroke order
To obey; to follow; to arrange
How to write 顺, stroke by stroke
9 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
Meaning of 顺
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to obey
- to follow
- to arrange
- to make reasonable
- along
- favorable
How 顺 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Head.
页 gives the meaning and 川 hints at the sound.
Radical: 页 (page), shared by 39 characters on this site.
How to remember 顺
顺 combines 川 (chuān, river) and 页 (yè, head). Picture a head bowed and going along with the flow of a river, which fits the meaning of following and obeying. 川 also hints at the sound, since chuān and shùn are close.
顺 shows up most often in words about things going smoothly or following a path, such as 顺利 (shùnlì) and 顺便 (shùnbiàn). Example: 祝你一路顺风。(Zhù nǐ yīlù shùnfēng.) Have a pleasant journey.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write the left side as three equal vertical strokes like 三 turned sideways. In 顺 it is the 川 shape, with the first stroke curving down to the left. Also keep the fourth tone, shùn, and do not confuse it with 川 (chuān) on its own.
Common words with 顺
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 顺利 | shùnlì | smoothly; without a hitch | HSK 2 |
| 一路顺风 | yīlù-shùnfēng | to have a pleasant journey (idiom) | HSK 2 |
| 顺序 | shùnxù | sequence; order | HSK 4 |
| 顺便 | shùnbiàn | conveniently; in passing | HSK 7-9 |
| 顺着 | shùnzhe | to follow; following | HSK 7-9 |
| 顺从 | shùncóng | obedient; to comply | HSK 7-9 |
| 顺其自然 | shùnqízìrán | to let nature take its course (idiom) | HSK 7-9 |
| 顺路 | shùnlù | by the way; while out doing sth else | HSK 7-9 |
| 一帆风顺 | yīfān-fēngshùn | propitious wind throughout the journey (idiom); plain sailing | HSK 7-9 |
| 孝顺 | xiàoshùn | filial; dutiful | HSK 7-9 |
| 顺手 | shùnshǒu | as an incidental action while doing sth else; while one is at it; in passing; smooth; easy | HSK 7-9 |
| 顺畅 | shùnchàng | smooth and unhindered; fluent | HSK 7-9 |
| 顺势 | shùnshì | to take advantage; to seize an opportunity | HSK 7-9 |
| 顺心 | shùnxīn | happy; satisfactory | HSK 7-9 |
顺 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 顺
How many strokes are in 顺?
顺 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 顺 mean?
顺 (shùn) means to obey; to follow; to arrange. A common word with it is 顺利 (shùnlì), meaning "smoothly; without a hitch".
How do you pronounce 顺?
顺 is pronounced shùn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 顺?
The radical of 顺 is 页, which carries the idea of "page". Dictionaries list 顺 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 顺?
The traditional form of 顺 is 順. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 顺 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 顺 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 顺 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.
What is the difference between 顺便 and 顺路?
顺便 (shùnbiàn) means doing something extra while you are already doing something else, in any situation. 顺路 (shùnlù) is specifically about a place being on your way, as in 我顺路买菜 (I'll buy groceries on the way).
How is 顺着 used in a sentence?
顺着 (shùnzhe) means following or along, and it comes before a noun like a road or river. For example, 顺着这条路走 (shùnzhe zhè tiáo lù zǒu) means walk along this road.