Traditional: 從
cóng HSK 2

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

我从中国来。
Wǒ cóng Zhōngguó lái.
I come from China.
他从家走。
Tā cóng jiā zǒu.
He walks from home.
我从今天开始。
Wǒ cóng jīntiān kāishǐ.
I start from today.
我从车站走到我家。
Wǒ cóng chēzhàn zǒu dào wǒ jiā.
I walked from the station to my house.
火车从北京开往上海。
Huǒchē cóng Běijīng kāi wǎng Shànghǎi.
The train travels from Beijing to Shanghai.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 从 as two people (从 resembles two persons) starting a journey together from one point—it emphasizes the idea of 'from' a common origin.

📝 Usage Notes

Used in both formal and informal contexts, in spoken and written Chinese. Common in directions (e.g., from A to B), time expressions (e.g., from Monday), and to indicate sources (e.g., from a book).

📖 Grammar Points

Often used in the pattern '从 + [starting point] + 到 + [end point]' (e.g., 从北京到上海). Can also combine with verbs like 从...出发 (depart from) or 从...开始 (start from).

🏯 Cultural Notes

This preposition reflects the Chinese cultural emphasis on origins and context, often framing actions or narratives by their starting point in time or space.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 自 (zì), which also means 'from' but is more formal and literary, 从 is more versatile in everyday use. Unlike 离 (lí), which indicates distance between two points, 从 focuses on the starting point of movement or time.

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