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遵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
遵
zūn
to observe
nr, 15 strokes, radical 辶, rank #25506, Very Hard
遵
zūn
to obey
nr, 15 strokes, radical 辶, rank #25506, Very Hard
遵
zūn
to follow
nr, 15 strokes, radical 辶, rank #25506, Very Hard
遵
zūn
to comply with
nr, 15 strokes, radical 辶, rank #25506, Very Hard
遵
zūn
to follow, to comply with; to honor
nr, 15 strokes, radical 辶, rank #25506, Very Hard
zūn(zun1)zun T1
1to observe
2to obey
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March 24, 2026
遵zūn(zun1)
The character 遵 (zūn) means to observe, obey, or comply with rules, laws, or customs. It is commonly used in contexts where adherence to authority or tradition is emphasized, such as in legal or formal situations. The nuance often conveys a sense of respect or honor toward the regulations being followed.
Strokes15Radical辶Frequency#25506DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 遵 is deeply rooted in Confucian ideals, where respect for authority and adherence to social norms are highly valued. This character reflects the importance of maintaining harmony within society by following established rules.
Memory tip
Imagine a wise elder (the shape of the character) who guides you to '遵' (zūn) the path of tradition. The character includes the radical for 'walk' (走) and suggests moving along a respected path. Visualize walking on a well-trodden road, symbolizing the act of following rules.
Meanings of 遵
zūn(zun1)
1to observe
2to obey
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 遵
遵Simplified
15Strokes
辶Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#25506Frequency Rank
Podcast: 遵
Podcast: 遵
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AI study notes for 遵
Quick Contrast
遵 (zūn) vs 服 (fú) — choose 遵 when emphasizing respect for rules or customs, while 服 focuses more on submission or compliance without the same connotation of honor.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include using 遵 in overly casual contexts, as it is more formal. It frequently collocates with words like '守' (shǒu, to guard) and '法' (fǎ, law), forming phrases like '遵守法律' (to obey the law). Be cautious with tones; the correct pronunciation is with a high flat tone (zūn).
HSK Study Tips
While 遵 is not in the official HSK list, it connects to higher-level vocabulary related to obedience and compliance. Students should focus on context and collocations to understand its proper use, as it often appears in legal or formal discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 遵 with '服' (fú), which also means to obey but is less formal. A wrong example would be '我遵他的建议' (I obey his suggestion), which is better expressed as '我服他的建议'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 遵
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The character 遵 (zūn) means to observe, obey, or comply with rules, laws, or customs. It is commonly used in contexts where adherence to authority or tradition is emphasized, such as in legal or formal situations. The nuance often conveys a sense of respect or honor toward the regulations being followed.
When to use 遵
Common mistakes include using 遵 in overly casual contexts, as it is more formal. It frequently collocates with words like '守' (shǒu, to guard) and '法' (fǎ, law), forming phrases like '遵守法律' (to obey the law). Be cautious with tones; the correct pronunciation is with a high flat tone (zūn).
遵 or something close to it
遵 (zūn) vs 服 (fú) — choose 遵 when emphasizing respect for rules or customs, while 服 focuses more on submission or compliance without the same connotation of honor.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 遵 with '服' (fú), which also means to obey but is less formal. A wrong example would be '我遵他的建议' (I obey his suggestion), which is better expressed as '我服他的建议'.
Write 遵
遵
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Grammar patterns of 遵
遵 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
We shall be able to tell whether you've kept your side of the bargain.
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Word Family of 遵
Words containing this character19
遵守zūnshǒuto comply with
遵循zūnxúnto follow
遵命zūnmìngto do as you bid
遵照zūnzhàoin accordance with
遵从zūncóngto comply with遵從
遵zūnto obey
遵义zūnyìZun'yi prefecture level city in Guizhou 貴州|贵州[Guìzhōu]遵義
遵义市zūnyìshìZun'yi prefecture level city in Guizhou 貴州|贵州[Guìzhōu]遵義市
遵义会议zūnyìhuìyìZunyi conference of January 1935 before the Long March遵義會議
遵义县zūnyìxiànZun'yi county in Zun'yi 遵義|遵义[Zūnyì], Guizhou遵義縣
遵行zūnxíngto follow
遵义地区zūnyìdìqūZun'yi prefecture in Guizhou遵義地區
遵化zūnhuàZunhua county level city in Tangshan 唐山[Tángshān], Hebei
黄遵宪huángzūnxiànHuang Zunxian (1848-1905), Qing dynasty poet and diplomat, author of A Record of Japan 日本國誌|日本国志[RìběnGuózhì], an extended analysis of Meiji Japan黃遵憲
遵奉zūnfèngto conform
遵化市zūnhuàshìZunhua county level city in Tangshan 唐山[Tángshān], Hebei
遵化县zūnhuàxiànZunhua county level city遵化縣
遵办zūnbànto handle in accordance with (the rules)遵辦
