Definitions

xún (verb) to follow; to adhere to; to abide by

Etymology phono-semantic

step

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

As a phono-semantic compound, 循 uses the semantic radical 彳 (the "walking" or "step" radical) on the left, connecting it to movement, travel, or following a path. The right side provides the phonetic component 盾, which independently means "shield". The original sense referred to the physical act of walking along a route, such as tracing a wall or boundary. This concrete idea of movement later extended to abstract concepts: complying with rules, following precedents, abiding by laws, or moving in a continuous cycle. Thus, the walking radical grounds the character in the notion of sequential progression, whether describing physical steps on a path or the metaphorical steps of adhering to a procedure.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

环很重要。

Xúnhuán hěn zhòngyào.

The cycle is very important.

我们遵规则。

Wǒmen zūnxún guīzé.

We follow the rules.

着地图走。

Tā xúnzhe dìtú zǒu.

He follows the map.

环使用节约资源。

Xúnhuán shǐyòng jiéyuē zīyuán.

Recycling saves resources.

我们必须遵法律。

Wǒmen bìxū zūnxún fǎlǜ.

We must follow the law.

着线索找到答案。

Xúnzhe xiànsuǒ zhǎodào dá'àn.

Follow the clues to find the answer.

历史发展有环规律。

Lìshǐ fāzhǎn yǒu xúnhuán guīlǜ.

Historical development has cyclical patterns.

传统的同时也要创新。

Zūnxún chuántǒng de tóngshí yě yào chuàngxīn.

While following tradition, we also need to innovate.