随

• Pinyin: suí
• Hanzi breakdown: 随 = 阝 (hill) + 辶 (walk) + phonetic component, meaning to follow along

Meaning

To follow; to go along with; as one pleases. Indicates following someone or acting freely.

Very productive in compound words: 随便 (as one pleases/casual), 随时 (at any time), 随着 (along with/as). By itself, 随 suggests compliance or going with the flow.

Examples

1. 你想去哪儿就去哪儿，我随你。 Wherever you want to go, I'll follow you.
2. 她随父母搬到了北京。 She moved to Beijing with her parents.
3. 孩子们随老师一起参观了博物馆。 The children visited the museum along with the teacher.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, social

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 你决定吧，我随你。(You decide; I'll go along with you.)
• 她随手把门关上了。(She casually closed the door behind her.)

Don't Say

• 我随了一本书。(Don't use 随 as a transitive verb for receiving or taking objects — it means to follow or go along with, not to take or pick up.)

Origin & History

Originally written with 辶 (walk) and a phonetic component, depicting walking behind someone. The core meaning of 'following' expanded to include 'going along with' and 'at will'.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal