Meaning
从 is one of the most fundamental prepositions in Mandarin, indicating the starting point of an action in space or time. It expresses 'from' in phrases like 从北京 (from Beijing) or 从明天 (from tomorrow). It can also mean 'to follow' or 'to obey' in more literary contexts.
Usage
从 is extremely common in everyday speech and appears in countless set phrases. It typically precedes a location or time word to mark where or when something begins. Often paired with 到 (dào, 'to') to show movement from one point to another, as in 从...到... (from...to...). In compounds like 从来 (cónglái, 'always/never'), it takes on different nuances.
Examples
- 01我从上海来。.I come from Shanghai.
- 02他从早到晚都在工作。.He works from morning to night.
Common collocations
- 从...到.........from...to...
- 从来always; ever (usually with negation)
- 从此from now on; henceforth
- 从小since childhood
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 從 shows two people (人) side by side, suggesting the idea of one person following another. The simplified form 从 retains this basic structure in a reduced form.