随 suí — follow · English

随

suí

At a glance · 随

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「随」繁体「隨」从辵隋声，小篆从辵隋声，形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「随」本义为跟从、顺从，引申随便、随即。

Structure

从辵、隋(suí)声，形声字，辵表行走义类，隋表音；简作随。

At a glance

Pinyinsuí

Radical阝

Strokes11

UnicodeU+968F

Character type形声

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English follow follow, listen to, submit to

Français suivre Suivre. «夫唱妇随» : suivre, s'accorder.

Español seguir Seguir. «夫唱妇随»: seguir, concordar.

العربية يتبع يتبع. «夫唱妇随»: يتبع، يتفق.

Русский следовать Следовать. «夫唱妇随»: следовать, согласоваться.

Common words

跟随gēn suífollow
随便suí biàncasual

◉ Listen