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顺其自然 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
顺其自然shùnqízìránto let nature take its course (idiom)HSK 7, unknown, 35 strokes, Very Hard
shùnqízìrán(shun4qi2zi4ran2)shun qi zi ran T4
  1. 1to let nature take its course (idiom)
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March 24, 2026

顺其自然(順其自然)shùnqízìrán(shun4qi2zi4ran2)

顺其自然 (shùn qí zì rán) is an idiom that means to let things happen naturally without interference. It conveys the idea of accepting the flow of life and circumstances as they are, often used when advising someone to remain calm and patient in uncertain situations.

Strokes35DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on harmony with nature and acceptance of life's natural rhythms, as reflected in traditional philosophies like Daoism. This idiom embodies that cultural belief in letting life unfold without force.

Memory tip

Imagine a river flowing smoothly down a hill (顺 - shùn means 'to go along'). Picture a person at the riverbank, watching the water as it moves freely, embodying the idea of letting nature (自然 - zì rán) take its course without trying to change it. The pronunciation 'shun' can remind you of 'shun' as in 'shun the stress' and let things happen naturally.

Meanings of 顺其自然

shùnqízìrán(shun4qi2zi4ran2)
1to let nature take its course (idiom)
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About 顺其自然

顺其自然Simplified
順其自然Traditional
35Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 顺其自然

Usage Notes

This idiom is often used in informal contexts when discussing personal experiences or advice. A common mistake is to confuse it with more active phrases, like 'take control,' which it contrasts with. Be careful with tone; the first character (顺) requires a falling tone to convey the intended meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While this idiom may not be explicitly listed in HSK levels, it is useful for intermediate learners seeking to understand conversational Chinese. Focus on the individual characters and their meanings, as well as how they combine to express this philosophical idea.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use this idiom in contexts requiring proactive behavior, such as 'take charge' situations. For example, saying 'I will 顺其自然 the project' is incorrect; instead, say 'I will let the project develop naturally.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 顺其自然

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Idiom spotlight: 顺其自然

Chengyu origin story
Literal meaning:follow its nature

Component characters

顺shùnto obey
HSK 59 strokes页
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其qíhis
HSK 58 strokes八
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自zìfrom
HSK 46 strokes自
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然ráncorrect
12 strokes灬
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How to say to let nature take its course (idiom) in Chinese

“to let nature take its course (idiom)” in Chinese is顺其自然shùnqízìrán

顺其自然 (shùn qí zì rán) is an idiom that means to let things happen naturally without interference. It conveys the idea of accepting the flow of life and circumstances as they are, often used when advising someone to remain calm and patient in uncertain situations.

When to use 顺其自然

This idiom is often used in informal contexts when discussing personal experiences or advice. A common mistake is to confuse it with more active phrases, like 'take control,' which it contrasts with. Be careful with tone; the first character (顺) requires a falling tone to convey the intended meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use this idiom in contexts requiring proactive behavior, such as 'take charge' situations. For example, saying 'I will 顺其自然 the project' is incorrect; instead, say 'I will let the project develop naturally.'

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自
然

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Frequently asked questions about 顺其自然

Use it when giving advice to someone feeling anxious or overwhelmed, suggesting they relax and allow things to develop organically.

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