Meaning
Follow, obey, accompany — 従 holds all three at once. At its core, the kanji describes deferring to something: a person, a rule, a tradition, or the natural flow of time. That deference extends into abstraction too — social hierarchies, institutional authority, and the subordinate role one occupies within a larger structure.
Structurally, 従 is built around the radical 彳 (chi), a left-side reduced form of 行 (to go, to walk), which signals movement or travel. The remaining components suggest multiple people (从) moving together in the same direction. The visual image is one of a procession — one person leading, others following closely behind in step. That origin makes the meaning self-explanatory: someone sets the pace, and the rest fall in line.
In classical and literary Japanese, 従 also functions as a prefix denoting secondary or junior rank. The Imperial Court rank system used designations such as 従一位 (junior first rank) and 従二位 (junior second rank), where 従 marked a level just below the primary rank of the same number. Today you'll encounter this usage in historical texts, period dramas (時代劇), and academic works on Japanese history.
At 10 strokes, 従 is a Grade 6 elementary kanji at N1 difficulty, appearing constantly in formal writing, business documents, and legal texts. The 彳 radical (the going-person radical) ties the character to motion — a fitting clue for a kanji about following.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
ジュウ (jū) — The dominant on'yomi. Nearly every compound you'll encounter uses this reading — in business memos, legal contracts, and everyday conversation alike. Learn this one first.
従来 (jūrai) — conventional, up to now, traditional; used to contrast new approaches against what has been standard practice
従事 (jūji) — engagement in work or a profession; being occupied with a task or field
従業員 (jūgyōin) — employee, worker, staff member; an essential word in business Japanese
ショウ (shō) — A less common reading, found in specific compounds. The standout case is 追従: read as ついしょう, it means flattery or sycophancy; read as ついじゅう, it means following behind someone. Same kanji, very different meanings.
- 追従 (tsuishō) — flattery, sycophancy, toadyism; the act of insincere praise to gain favor (distinct from ついじゅう below)
ジュ (ju) — A rare reading appearing in classical or family-relationship vocabulary. While uncommon, it surfaces in written forms of kinship terms.
従兄 (jukei) — older male cousin (classical/formal written term)
従弟 (jutei) — younger male cousin (classical/formal written term)
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
したが・う (shitagau) — The native intransitive verb: "to follow," "to obey," "to act in accordance with," or "to comply with." The particle に (ni) marks what is being followed. It's the reading most learners meet first, and it comes up constantly in everyday speech.
従う (shitagau) — to follow, to obey, to comply with
命令に従う (meirei ni shitagau) — to follow orders, to obey a command
規則に従う (kisoku ni shitagau) — to follow the rules, to comply with regulations
したが・える (shitagaeru) — The transitive counterpart to したがう: "to bring someone under one's command," "to subjugate," or "to have followers accompany one." The emphasis is on the dominant role — you're the one setting the pace while others trail behind.
部下を従える (buka wo shitagaeru) — to have subordinates follow one, to lead underlings
兵士を従えて進む (heishi wo shitagaete susumu) — to advance with soldiers in tow
Common Words & Compounds
従 turns up across a wide range of Japanese — modern business terms, classical hierarchy vocabulary, and everyday expressions of compliance. Key compounds by theme:
Work and Employment
従業員 (jūgyōin) — employee, worker, staff member; used universally in business contexts
従事 (jūji) — engagement in a profession or task; e.g., 医療に従事する (to work in medicine)
従業 (jūgyō) — employment, being engaged in work
従軍 (jūgun) — serving in the military, accompanying an army on campaign
Obedience and Hierarchy
服従 (fukujū) — submission, obedience, subjugation; strong compliance under authority
盲従 (mōjū) — blind obedience; following without independent thought or judgment
主従 (shujū) — master and servant; lord and retainer; a central concept in samurai culture
従順 (jūjun) — docile, submissive, obedient; often used to describe a compliant personality or animal
従者 (jūsha) — attendant, retainer, follower; a person in service to another
従属 (jūzoku) — subordination, dependency; being in a secondary or dependent position
Convention and Time
- 従来 (jūrai) — heretofore, up to now, conventional, traditional; frequently used to contrast past approaches with new ones
Following and Pursuit
追従 (tsuijū) — following behind; pursuit; trailing after someone
追従 (tsuishō) — flattery, sycophancy; insincere praise to please someone in power
Family Relationships
従兄弟 (itoko) — male cousin; the kanji spelling reflects the classical meaning of "following" the same grandparent lineage
従姉妹 (itoko) — female cousin; same reading, different kanji combination
Example Sentences
先生の指示に従ってください。
Sensei no shiji ni shitagatte kudasai.
Please follow the teacher's instructions.
犬は主人の後を従順に従って歩いた。
Inu wa shujin no ato wo jūjun ni shitagatte aruita.
The dog walked docilely following behind its owner.
従来の方法では解決できない問題もある。
Jūrai no hōhō de wa kaiketsu dekinai mondai mo aru.
There are problems that cannot be solved with conventional methods.
彼は長年にわたって医療に従事している。
Kare wa naganen ni watatte iryō ni jūji shite iru.
He has been engaged in medical work for many years.
新入社員は会社の規則に従わなければならない。
Shinnyū shain wa kaisha no kisoku ni shitagawanakereba naranai.
New employees must follow company rules.
時代の変化に従って、働き方も大きく変わってきた。
Jidai no henka ni shitagatte, hataraki kata mo ōkiku kawatte kita.
In accordance with changes in the era, work styles have also changed dramatically.
従業員全員が社長の決定に服従した。
Jūgyōin zen'in ga shachō no kettei ni fukujū shita.
All employees submitted to the president's decision.
伝統に従い、正月には家族で神社に参拝する。
Dentō ni shitagai, shōgatsu ni wa kazoku de jinja ni sanpai suru.
Following tradition, we visit the shrine as a family on New Year's Day.
将軍は多くの家臣を従えて城に入った。
Shōgun wa ōku no kashin wo shitagaete shiro ni haitta.
The shogun entered the castle with many retainers in tow.
運命に従うより、自分の意志で道を切り開くべきだ。
Unmei ni shitagau yori, jibun no ishi de michi wo kiri hiraku beki da.
Rather than following fate, one should forge one's own path through willpower.
Memory Tip
Picture a classic samurai scene: a powerful lord (主君) strides forward with total authority, and a faithful line of retainers (従者) walks behind him in perfect unison, never straying. The left side of 従 shows 彳 — a person mid-step, always in motion, always going somewhere. The right side suggests a cluster of people, all moving the same way. Together, they paint a procession — one figure out front, everyone else in tow.
For ジュウ (jū), picture a queue — a patient line where each person follows the one ahead, no questions asked. For したがう, the syllable "shita" echoes 下 (below) — a reminder that you're always one step beneath whoever you're following. Every time you see 従, hear that quiet footstep of the loyal retainer — always one step behind, always in step.