听从

• Pinyin: tīng cóng
• Hanzi breakdown: 听 = 口 + 斤 — to listen; 从 = 人 + 人 — to follow

Meaning

To obey; to follow; to comply with.

To accept and follow instructions, advice, or orders from someone. Implies respect for authority or trust in the advisor. More formal than 听话.

Examples

1. 孩子们应该听从父母的教导，但也要有独立思考能力。 Children should follow their parents' guidance, but also develop independent thinking.
2. 士兵必须听从指挥官的命令，这是军队的基本原则。 Soldiers must obey their commander's orders — that's a basic principle of the military.
3. 我听从了医生的建议，戒掉了熬夜的坏习惯。 I followed the doctor's advice and quit the bad habit of staying up late.

Usage Guide

Context: authority, advice, compliance

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 听从指挥。(Follow orders.)
• 听从建议。(Follow advice.)

Don't Say

• 用'听从'形容盲目服从 (听从 implies reasonable compliance — for blind obedience, use 盲从 or emphasize the negative)

Origin & History

听 means to listen, 从 means to follow — to listen and follow.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal