Meaning
The N1 kanji 随 (ズイ, したが.う, まにま.に) primarily means "to accompany," "to follow," "to obey," or "to comply." It can also express "accordingly" or "as it is." At its heart, 随 conveys the idea of moving alongside something or someone. This can be a physical action, a conceptual alignment, or adherence to a rule or desire.
Importantly, 随 often suggests a natural, unforced, or discretionary following, rather than a strict obligation. Historically, 随 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines the radical 阝 (こざとへん), which signifies a "hill" or "mound" and is often linked to movement, paths, or locations. The right side is the component 隋 (スイ).
While 隋 had various ancient meanings, in 随 it functions mainly as a phonetic component, providing the "sui" sound. However, 隋 itself also carried an older sense of "to fall" or "to follow along," which gradually evolved to include the idea of accompaniment. The right side of 隋 further breaks down into another 阝 (a 'path' or 'location' element) and 妥 (ダ), meaning "stable," "peaceful," or "appropriate."
These combined visual components subtly evoke the image of moving along a path (阝) in a stable, compliant, or appropriate manner, or following gracefully. This etymology neatly aligns with the character's modern usage of accompanying or complying. With 11 strokes, 随 is a moderately complex Jōyō kanji, making it a key character for advanced Japanese learners.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary On'yomi, or Chinese-derived reading, for 随 is ズイ (Zui). This reading appears frequently in many compound words, often conveying senses of following, accompanying, or acting at one's discretion.
- 随行 (zuikō) — This compound means "accompanying" or "following." It's commonly used when someone accompanies a dignitary or a superior, such as a secretary accompanying their boss on a business trip or an aide accompanying a politician.
- 随筆 (zuihitsu) — Literally meaning "following the brush," this term refers to essays or miscellany. It's a genre of Japanese literature where authors record their spontaneous thoughts and observations as they come to mind, without a strict structure or predetermined theme.
- 随分 (zuibun) — This adverb translates to "quite," "considerably," or "a lot." Its original meaning implied "as much as one likes" or "as one pleases," directly reflecting 随's sense of 'following one's will.' While its modern usage mainly expresses degree, this historical link is fascinating.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The native Japanese readings, or Kun'yomi, for 随 are したが.う (shitaga.u) and まにま.に (manima.ni).
したが.う (shitaga.u): This is the more frequently encountered Kun'yomi, meaning "to follow," "to obey," or "to comply with." While often written with the kanji 従う, 随う is also a valid and recognized form. It emphasizes a more natural or unforced following, often in the sense of conforming to a situation or condition.
随う (shitagau) — To follow, to obey, to comply.
風に随う (kaze ni shitagau) — To follow the wind; to go with the flow or adapt to the current situation.
命令に随う (meirei ni shitagau) — To obey an order or command.
まにま.に (manima.ni): This reading is less common in modern Japanese, often appearing in more literary or fixed expressions. It conveys the sense of "as one pleases," "at the mercy of," or "according to one's will."
心の随に (kokoro no manima ni) — As one wishes, according to one's heart's desire. This expression suggests acting without restraint, letting one's feelings guide them.
時勢の随に (jisei no manima ni) — At the mercy of the times; adapting to the prevailing conditions or current trends.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 随 forms numerous useful compound words, reflecting its diverse meanings of following, accompanying, or acting according to one's discretion. Here are some key examples:
Action and Movement
- 随行 (zuikō) — Accompaniment; following someone in an official capacity.
- 随伴 (zuihan) — Accompaniment; occurrence together with something else (e.g., in science, a phenomenon with its accompanying effects).
- 随身 (zuijin) — Attendant; bodyguard; historically, an escort for nobility.
- 随時 (zuiji) — At any time; as occasion demands; whenever it is convenient or necessary.
Compliance and Discretion
- 随意 (zuii) — Optional; arbitrary; at one's discretion or will. Often used in contrast to compulsory or mandatory actions (e.g., 随意科目 — elective subject).
- 随順 (zuijun) — Obedience; compliance; willingly following instructions or rules, often with a sense of humility.
- 随所 (zuisho) — Everywhere; at various places; indicating widespread occurrence of something (e.g., 随所に工夫が見られる — ingenuity is seen everywhere).
- 随感 (zuikan) — Random thoughts; impressions; reflections (often written in essays or personal notes).
Degree and Consequence
- 随分 (zuibun) — Quite; considerably; very much. A common adverb to express a significant degree of something (e.g., 随分と時間がかかった — It took quite a lot of time).
- 随って (shitagatte) — Therefore; consequently; accordingly. Often functions as a conjunctive adverb to show a result or logical conclusion (Note: While often written with 従う, 随って is historically linked to 随).
Literary and Philosophical
- 随筆 (zuihitsu) — Essays; miscellany; a genre reflecting the author's spontaneous thoughts and observations.
- 随喜 (zuiki) — Rapture; ecstasy; often used in a religious or spiritual context to describe profound joy or appreciation.
Example Sentences
彼は私の意図に随って行動した。
Kare wa watashi no ito ni shitagatte kōdō shita.
He acted according to my intentions.
会議は随時開催されます。
Kaigi wa zuiji kaisai saremasu.
Meetings will be held as needed/at any time.
旅行には秘書が随行する予定だ。
Ryokō ni wa hisho ga zuikō suru yotei da.
The secretary is scheduled to accompany the trip.
参加は自由で、随意です。
Sanka wa jiyū de, zuii desu.
Participation is free and optional.
彼は随分頑張ったが、目標には届かなかった。
Kare wa zuibun ganbatta ga, mokuhyō ni wa todokanakatta.
He tried quite hard, but he didn't reach his goal.
その場の状況に随って、臨機応変に対応した。
Sono ba no jōkyō ni shitagatte, rinkiōhen ni taiō shita.
I responded flexibly, adapting to the situation at hand.
彼女は心の随に絵を描き、思いつくままに色を塗った。
Kanojo wa kokoro no manima ni e o egaki, omoitsuku mama ni iro o nutta.
She painted as her heart desired, coloring as ideas came to her.
この随筆集には、作者の日常の観察と考察が随所に見られる。
Kono zuihitsu-shū ni wa, sakusha no nichijō no kansatsu to kōsatsu ga zuisho ni mirareru.
This collection of essays showcases the author's daily observations and reflections throughout.
環境変化に随順しながら進化していくのが、生物の摂理だ。
Kankyō henka ni zuijun shinagara shinka shite iku no ga, seibutsu no setsuri da.
It is the law of nature for living beings to evolve while complying with environmental changes.
Memory Tip
To help remember 随, let's break it down and create a small story. The left radical, 阝 (こざとへん), represents a "hill" or "mound," which we can visualize as a winding path or road, suggesting movement or a location to follow. The right part, 隋 (スイ), functions primarily as a phonetic component. However, ancient forms of 隋 also held a sense of "to fall" or "to follow along."
We can further deconstruct 隋 into another 阝 (a path/location element) and 妥 (ダ), meaning "safe," "gentle," or "appropriate." Picture yourself walking along a path (阝) safely and gently (妥). This gentle movement, combined with the phonetic hint of 'sui' (from 隋), guides us to the core meaning of 随: "to accompany," "to follow," or "to comply." Imagine a wise person gracefully observing and adjusting as they follow a winding mountain path. This embodies the idea of accompanying or complying without resistance, moving with ease and appropriateness.