Definitions
(preposition)
from; through; via
(verb)
to follow; to obey
(verb)
to engage in (an activity)
(noun)
subordinate; assistant
Etymology
Pictograph of one person following another.
About
The character "从" derives from a pictographic representation of one person following another, which is directly reflected in its simplified structure composed of two "人" components placed sequentially. Its traditional counterpart, "從", builds upon this base by incorporating the walking radical "辵" (often seen as "辶") combined with "止", emphasizing the action of moving in pursuit. Originally conveying the literal sense of following or accompanying someone, its meaning broadened to encompass notions of compliance and obedience, and later underwent a grammatical shift to function as a preposition indicating spatial or temporal starting points, such as in the construction "从...到...". This evolution from a concrete verb to an abstract grammatical marker illustrates its adaptive role within the language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我从中国来。
我的朋友从北京回来了。
请从这儿走到那里。
她从去年开始学习中文。
从学校到我家需要十分钟。
从明天起，我要每天锻炼。
这个故事是从一本古书中发现的。
他的很多灵感都从生活中来。