Meaning
顺从 means to obey or follow someone's wishes, commands, or authority without resistance. It can describe both the action of complying and the quality of being obedient or submissive. The word carries a sense of yielding to another's will, often in hierarchical relationships like parent-child, teacher-student, or leader-follower.
Usage
顺从 is commonly used in contexts involving authority, power dynamics, or social hierarchy. It can have both neutral and slightly negative connotations depending on context—while obedience can be virtuous, excessive 顺从 may imply lack of independence or critical thinking. Often used with 对 (duì) to indicate whom one obeys.
Examples
- 01她从小就很顺从父母的安排。.She has been obedient to her parents' arrangements since childhood.
- 02我们不应该盲目顺从权威。.We should not blindly obey authority.
Characters
Common collocations
- 顺从父母to obey one's parents
- 盲目顺从to blindly obey
- 对...顺从...to be obedient to...
- 顺从命令to obey orders
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters reinforce the meaning of following. 顺 originally depicted a river flowing smoothly in its natural direction, suggesting going along with something. 从 shows two people, one following another, symbolizing obedience or compliance.