cóng

from

Originally a pictograph of one person following another (). Later the and components were added to indicate movement.

Components
彳 meaning component

  Meaning component

chì

  

walk

is a component form of .

从 iconic component

  Iconic component

cóng

  

from

Depicts one person following another.

止 meaning component

  Meaning component

zhǐ

  

(foot), stop

Depicts a foot.

Evolution

從 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
從 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
從 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
從 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
從 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

cóng

from, by, since, whence, through; from; through; via; to follow; to obey; to engage in (an activity); never (in negative sentence); (Taiwan pr. [zòng]) retainer; assistant; auxiliary; subordinate; related by common paternal grandfather or earlier ancestor

() 

Cóng

surname Cong

Most common words with 從
Freq.
Word
Meaning

from

从来

always

从没

never did

从而

thus

自从

since (a time)

Component uses

Sound component in 6 characters (1 verified)