How to write 从 (cóng, “from”)
从 (cóng), an HSK 2 character, means “from”, “to follow” and “to obey”. It is HSK 2 in the 2025 syllabus, up from level 1 in the 2021 standard. The traditional form is 從, 11 strokes instead of 4. On its own it is an HSK 2 word; it also forms 从小 (“from childhood”), 从中 (“from among them”) and 从来 (“always”). Japanese reads it shou, “two people”.
- Pinyin
- cóng
- Strokes
- 4
- HSK
- 2
- Radical
- 人 (“person”)
- Traditional
- 從
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
As a left-right character it splits into 人 (“person”, the radical), strokes 1–2; 人 (“person”, the radical), strokes 3–4, written the left part first.
- Left-falling stroke ㇒top leftdown and left
- Right-falling stroke ㇏leftdown and right
- Left-falling stroke ㇒topdownwards
- Right-falling stroke ㇏centerdown and right → rightwards
Japanese and Chinese
Japanese and Chinese draw all 4 strokes in the same order and direction, by our stroke-by-stroke comparison.
Traditional form
- Simplified
- 从 · 4 strokes
- Traditional
- 從 · 11 strokes · see its strokes
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Pinyin and meaning
| Pinyin | Meanings | Traditional | In words |
|---|---|---|---|
| cóng second tone | from; through; via; (bound form) to follow; (bound form) to obey; (bound form) to engage in (an activity); (used before a negative) ever | 從 | 从小 从中 从来 从此 |
- HSK 2025 syllabus
- level 2
- 2021 standard
- level 1
- HSK 2.0
- in a level 2 word
- Words with it
- 112 in CC-CEDICT
Words with 从
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 从 從 | cóng | from; through HSK 2 |
| 从小 從小 | cóngxiǎo | from childhood; from a young age HSK 2 |
| 从中 從中 | cóngzhōng | from among them; from it HSK 4 |
| 从来 從來 | cónglái | always; at all times HSK 4 |
| 从此 從此 | cóngcǐ | from now on; since then HSK 4 |
| 从不 從不 | cóngbù | never HSK 5 |
| 从事 從事 | cóngshì | to go for; to engage in HSK 5 |
| 从前 從前 | cóngqián | previously; formerly HSK 5 |
| 自从 自從 | zìcóng | since (a time); ever since HSK 5 |
| 从而 從而 | cóng’ér | thus; thereby HSK 5 |
HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several characters: worksheet maker.
Keep going
Contain it:
HSK 2, in list order: