Common Meanings
1
cóng从
To follow; to comply with; to go after.
他决定从大家的意见。
He decided to follow everyone's opinion.
To obey, follow, or comply with; often used in phrases like '顺从' (to be obedient), '盲从' (to blindly follow), or '从善如流' (to readily accept good advice).
他总是从善如流，乐于接受别人的建议。
He always readily accepts good advice and is happy to take others' suggestions.
To adopt, follow, or comply with; often used to indicate a preferential or optimal approach, as in 'from excellence' or 'preferential treatment'.
公司将从优考虑您的申请。
The company will give preferential consideration to your application.
To be engaged in or participate in an activity, profession, or cause.
他大学毕业后，决定从事教育工作。
After graduating from university, he decided to engage in educational work.
Meaning 'from' or 'since', indicating a starting point in time or origin.
从现在起，我们要更加努力。
From now on, we need to work even harder.
Follower; attendant; retinue.
他有很多忠实的随从。
He has many loyal followers.
Refers to a relative who is not a direct immediate family member, such as a paternal uncle (从父).
我的从父明天要来我家做客。
My paternal uncle is coming to visit my home tomorrow.
Secondary or subordinate; accessory.
在这个团队中，他扮演的是从属角色。
In this team, he plays a subordinate role.
In ancient Chinese official ranking systems (from the Wei Dynasty onwards), '从' (cóng) referred to a subordinate or deputy rank, contrasting with '正' (zhèng) for a principal rank. For instance, a Grand Academician of the Longtu Pavilion in the Song Dynasty held the subordinate second rank (从二品).
他的官职为从三品，低于正三品。
His official position was of the subordinate third rank, lower than the principal third rank.