To follow behind someone, walking after another person. From, since, to comply with, to join, or to follow. Two people (人 + 人) in single file: one follows the other.
The character 从 is a simple picture of two people. The left side shows one person, and the right side shows another person slightly behind, as if following. This gives the core meaning of 'to follow' or 'from'.
In English, 'go from' is common, but in Chinese, 从 is typically paired with 到 to indicate a journey from one place to another.
When indicating a starting time, 从 is often followed by 起 or 开始 to mean 'starting from'.
从 means 'from' (a starting point), while 跟 means 'with' or 'and' (accompanying).
从 indicates the origin or starting point of an action, like 'from Beijing'. 跟 indicates accompanying someone or doing something together, like 'with a friend'. They are not interchangeable.
| Dimension | 从 | 跟 |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | from (a place/time) | with; and (a person) |
| Example | 我从北京来。 (I come from Beijing.) | 我跟朋友去。 (I go with a friend.) |
| Function | marks starting point | marks accompaniment |
No, 从 is rarely used alone as a verb 'to follow' in modern Mandarin; it is mostly a preposition meaning 'from'.
In modern Chinese, 从 is primarily a preposition meaning 'from'. The meaning 'to follow' is usually expressed by other words like 跟 or 跟着. Using 从 alone as a verb sounds unnatural.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Usage | 从 as preposition: 从家到学校 | 从 as verb: 我从你 (I follow you) |
| Correct verb | 跟着你 (follow you) | 从你 (incorrect) |
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
他今天 从 上海回来，晚上就和我去了一个饭馆儿吃北京菜。
Meet Xiao Shang, who is heading back to Shanghai. She compares two ways to travel and tells us why she prefers the slower one. This story helps you practice comparing transportation in simple Chinese.
从 北京到上海坐飞机，不到两个小时，但是要坐火车，就要最少五个多小时。
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