The kanji 従: meaning, readings and stroke order

従

Meaning: follow, obey
On reading: ジュウ juu、ショウ* shou、ジュ* ju
Kun reading: したが（う） shitagau、したが（える） shitagaeru
Strokes: 10
Radical: 彳 step
Level: Level 6 · grade 6
Old form: 從

Stroke order

Meaning in other languages

Vietnamese: đi theo, tuân theo (tùng)
Japanese: したがう。ついていく。
Korean: 따르다 (종)
Chinese: 服从、跟随 (从)

Readings, words and example sentences

ジュウ juu · on reading · less common

服ふく従じゅう
obeying
命令に 服ふく従じゅうします。
They obey orders.

したが（う） shitagau · kun reading

従したがう
to follow, to obey
先生の指示に 従したがいます。
We follow the teacher's instructions.

したが（える） shitagaeru · kun reading · less common

従したがえる
to lead (people who follow you)
兵を 従したがえて 進みます。
He marches on, leading his soldiers.

* marks a less common reading, usually learnt from junior high on.

Practise writing 従 in the app

In Dino Kids your child writes 従 with a finger and every stroke is checked, then takes the Level 6 practice test. Free, no ads, no in-app purchases.

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Readings, radicals: Kanjium, KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); strokes: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); Korean, simplified forms: Unicode Unihan. Meanings, sentences: Dino Kids (CC0). See Licences.