从

cóng

HSK 2

从 — cóng

1. from (indicating source, starting point in space or time)

   我从北京来。 wǒ cóng běijīng lái — I come from Beijing.

2. through; via (indicating route, channel, or means)

   我们可以从网络报名。 wǒmen kěyǐ cóng wǎngluò bàomíng — We can register via the internet.

3. to follow; to comply with; (bound form) to obey

   他从父母的意见行事。 tā cóng fùmǔ de yìjiàn xíngshì — He acts according to (follows) his parents' opinions.

4. used before a negative to mean 'ever' (classical/grammatical usage)

   从未有人见过这样的景象。 cóngwèi yǒurén jiàn guò zhèyàng de jǐngxiàng — No one has ever seen such a sight.

5. retainer; attendant; assistant; subordinate (bound form)

   皇帝出行总带着一队从。 huángdì chūxíng zǒng dài zhe yīduì cóng — The emperor always traveled with a group of attendants.

6. related by a common paternal grandfather or earlier ancestor (bound kinship term)

   他和我是从兄弟，同祖父。 tā hé wǒ shìcóng xiōngdì tóng zǔfù — He and I are paternal cousins, sharing the same grandfather.

7. surname Cong

   从先生是本市著名的画家。 cóng xiānshēng shì běnshì zhùmíng de huàjiā — Mr. Cong is a well-known painter in this city.