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順 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
順shùnto submit to, to obey, to go along withx, 12 strokes, radical 頁
shùn(shun4)shun T4
  1. 1to submit to, to obey, to go along with
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March 24, 2026

順shùn(shun4)

The character 順 (shùn) conveys the idea of following or complying with something, often implying ease or naturalness in doing so. It is commonly used in contexts that involve obedience, agreement, or going along with a situation, such as in phrases like 順其自然 (shùn qí zìrán), meaning to go with the flow.

Strokes12Radical頁
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, obedience and harmony are highly valued, making the concept of 順 significant in both personal relationships and societal interactions. This character may often be encountered in discussions about family dynamics, where children are expected to 'go along' with their parents' wishes.

Memory Tip

Imagine a smooth river flowing in the direction of the current, representing the idea of going along with things. The character 順 includes the radical 頁 (page), suggesting 'following the pages' of a book as they naturally turn in order, reflecting obedience and submission.

Meanings of 順

shùn(shun4)
1to submit to, to obey, to go along with
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 順 means.

About 順

順Simplified
12Strokes
頁Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 順

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AI Study Notes for 順

Quick Contrast

顺 (shùn) vs 服 (fú) — choose 順 (shùn) when emphasizing ease or natural compliance, while 服 (fú) focuses more on submission or obedience.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone, as 順 (shùn) has a neutral tone but can be confused with different tones that change meaning entirely. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure to pair it with the right verbs or nouns to convey the intended meaning, such as 順利 (shùnlì, smooth) or 順從 (shùn cóng, to obey).

HSK Study Tips

虽然这个词不在HSK列表中,但它与HSK 3和4的词汇有联系,如 '顺利' 和 '顺其自然'。学习者应该关注与顺相关的常用短语,以提高他们的口语流利度。

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 順 (shùn) with similar-sounding characters like '瞬' (shùn, moment). Additionally, they might misuse it in sentences, like saying '我不顺' (Wǒ bù shùn), which can sound awkward; instead, use '我不顺从' (Wǒ bù shùn cóng) for clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 順

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Etymology of 順

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 页 represents the meaning and 川 represents the sound. Simplified form of 順.

Memory Hint

head

Semantic (meaning)頁
+
Phonetic (sound)川
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

順 = 頁 + 川. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 順

IDS Structure⿰川頁
順Full Character
=
川Chuan1
left
頁ye4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 順?

How to say to submit to, to obey, to go along with in Chinese

“to submit to, to obey, to go along with” in Chinese is順shùn

The character 順 (shùn) conveys the idea of following or complying with something, often implying ease or naturalness in doing so. It is commonly used in contexts that involve obedience, agreement, or going along with a situation, such as in phrases like 順其自然 (shùn qí zìrán), meaning to go with the flow.

When to use 順

Be cautious with the tone, as 順 (shùn) has a neutral tone but can be confused with different tones that change meaning entirely. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but ensure to pair it with the right verbs or nouns to convey the intended meaning, such as 順利 (shùnlì, smooth) or 順從 (shùn cóng, to obey).

順 or something close to it

顺 (shùn) vs 服 (fú) — choose 順 (shùn) when emphasizing ease or natural compliance, while 服 (fú) focuses more on submission or obedience.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 順 (shùn) with similar-sounding characters like '瞬' (shùn, moment). Additionally, they might misuse it in sentences, like saying '我不顺' (Wǒ bù shùn), which can sound awkward; instead, use '我不顺从' (Wǒ bù shùn cóng) for clarity.

Write 順

順

Practice writing 順 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 順

Words Containing This Character20
顺利shùnlìsmoothly順利
顺便shùnbiànconveniently順便
顺shùnto obey順
顺序shùnxùsequence順序
顺着shùnzheto follow順著
顺手shùnshǒueasily順手
顺畅shùnchàngfluent順暢
顺差shùnchā(trade or budget) surplus順差
顺风lit. tail wind順風
一路顺风yílùshùnfēngto have a pleasant journey (idiom)一路順風
顺路shùnlùby the way順路
理顺to sort out理順
顺从shùncóngobedient順從
顺心shùnxīnhappy順心
顺应shùnyìngto comply順應
顺势shùnshìto take advantage順勢
孝顺xiàoshùnfilial piety孝順
一帆风顺yìfānfēngshùnplain sailing一帆風順
顺其自然shùnqízìránto let nature take its course (idiom)順其自然
顺道on the way順道
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 順

What does 顺利 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 順

Common phrases include 順其自然 (shùn qí zìrán) meaning 'let it be' and 順從 (shùn cóng) meaning 'to obey'.

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