verb HSK 5
zūn xún
to follow · to abide by · to comply with

Meaning

遵循 means to follow or comply with rules, principles, traditions, or established patterns. It implies careful adherence to something regarded as authoritative or proper, often used in formal or written contexts when discussing laws, regulations, protocols, or traditional practices.

Usage

遵循 is more formal than 跟随 (follow physically) or 听从 (obey orders). It's commonly used in official documents, academic writing, and formal speech when discussing adherence to principles, laws, or established procedures. Native speakers often pair it with abstract nouns like 原则 (principles), 规律 (laws/patterns), or 传统 (traditions).

Examples

  1. 01
    我们必须遵循公司的规章制度。
    Wǒmen bìxū zūn xún gōngsī de guī zhāng zhì .
    We must comply with the company's rules and regulations.
  2. 02
    科学研究应该遵循客观规律。
    Kēxué yánjiū yīnggāi zūn xún kèguān guī .
    Scientific research should follow objective laws.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 遵循原则
    zūn xún yuán
    to follow principles
  • 遵循规律
    zūn xún guī
    to follow laws/patterns
  • 遵循传统
    zūn xún chuán tǒng
    to follow tradition
  • 严格遵循
    yán zūn xún
    to strictly follow

Antonyms

Origin

Both characters relate to following and obeying. 遵 originally depicted walking along a path, suggesting obedience. 循 combines the walking radical with a phonetic component, meaning to follow a course or pattern. Together they emphasize careful, deliberate adherence.

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