Meanings of 从
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About 从
Podcast: 从
Podcast: 从
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AI Study Notes for 从
Be cautious not to confuse 从 with other prepositions like 在 (zài) or 到 (dào), which have different usages. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts but tends to appear more frequently in written Chinese. Common collocations include 从...到... (from...to...) and 从来 (never, when used in a negative context).
As an HSK Level 2 word, 从 connects to vocabulary related to directions and relationships, such as 去 (qù - to go) and 家 (jiā - home). Students should focus on using 从 in sentences to describe movement or origins, as this will help reinforce its meaning in context.
Learners often confuse 从 with 由 (yóu), which also means 'from' but in more formal contexts. For example, saying '从他给我' instead of '由他给我' is incorrect when using a formal structure.
Pronunciation of 从
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Etymology of 从
Pictograph of one person following another.
One person 人 following another
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 从
Pictograph of one person following another.
- 1The giveawayOne person 人 following another
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 从? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 从?
Decomposition of 从
Identify the Components
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How to say second cousin in Chinese
“second cousin” in Chinese is从
从 (cóng) primarily means 'from' or 'through' and is commonly used to indicate the origin of something or the method by which something is done. Additionally, it can imply following or obeying someone or something, making it versatile in various contexts, such as directions or relationships.
When to use 从
Be cautious not to confuse 从 with other prepositions like 在 (zài) or 到 (dào), which have different usages. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts but tends to appear more frequently in written Chinese. Common collocations include 从...到... (from...to...) and 从来 (never, when used in a negative context).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 从 with 由 (yóu), which also means 'from' but in more formal contexts. For example, saying '从他给我' instead of '由他给我' is incorrect when using a formal structure.
Write 从
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Practice writing 从 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 从
从 functions as a preposition (often called a "coverb" in Chinese). It introduces a phrase that comes BEFORE the main verb (我在家吃饭, 给妈妈打电话), unlike English which puts prepositions after the verb. It carries 28 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.
Complete the Sentence
你____这儿走五分钟就到书店了。
Walk five minutes from here and you will reach the bookstore.
Example Sentences for 从 (14)
Word Family of 从
Compound Meaning
What does 巫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 从
You can use 从 to indicate the starting point of an action, such as '从家里出发' (cóng jiālǐ chūfā - to depart from home).
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