从
Character learning workspace

cóng · from, by, since, whence, through

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 2HSK 3.0 · Level 2Frequency #70
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Learn every stroke in 从

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 从 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

4Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

人Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 从 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 从

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

cóngWords pronounced cóng
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Example sentences

Notice where 从 sits in each complete thought.

Tā cóng lái dōu méi yǒu ài guò wǒ.他从来都没有爱过我。

He never loved me.

Source: Tatoeba #13999384 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ shì cóng zhōng guó lái de.我是从中国来的。

I come from China.

Source: Tatoeba #717391 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Ài cóng bú shì cuò de.爱从不是错的。

Love is never wrong.

Source: Tatoeba #6031938 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ cóng lái méi tīng guò tā shuō ‘ bù ’.我从来没听过她说‘不’。

I have never heard her say 'No'.

Source: Tatoeba #844249 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ cóng lái méi yǒu kàn dào tā xiào guò.我从来没有看到她笑过。

I've never seen her laugh.

Source: Tatoeba #3783468 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ cóng lái méi shuō guò wǒ shì zhuān jiā.我从来没说过我是专家。

I never said I was an expert.

Source: Tatoeba #8511430 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 从 in context

  1. Say cóng, then recall the core meaning: from, by, since, whence, through.
  2. Write all 4 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 从小 (cóng xiǎo), meaning “from childhood”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 从 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.