Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
顺(順)shùn(shun4)
The character '顺' (shùn) conveys the idea of obedience, following, or being in accordance with something. It is commonly used in contexts that involve agreement, compliance, or smoothness in processes and relationships.
Strokes9Radical页Frequency#3103DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
'顺' is often associated with the Chinese value of harmony (和谐, héxié), as it emphasizes going along with others and maintaining smooth relationships, which is a significant aspect of Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a river flowing smoothly along its path. The character '顺' resembles a flowing line, emphasizing the idea of going with the flow and following nature’s course. Picture the river obeying the landscape, making it a perfect mnemonic for '顺' (shùn) meaning to follow or yield.
Meanings of 顺
shùn(shun4)
1to obey
2to follow
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 顺
顺Simplified
順Traditional
9Strokes
页Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#3103Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 顺
Podcast: 顺
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 顺
Quick Contrast
顺 (shùn) vs 服 (fú) — choose 顺 when emphasizing smoothness or compliance in processes, while 服 focuses more on submission or obedience in a hierarchical context.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a river flowing smoothly along its path. The character '顺' resembles a flowing line, emphasizing the idea of going with the flow and following nature’s course. Picture the river obeying the landscape, making it a perfect mnemonic for '顺' (shùn) meaning to follow or yield.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing '顺' as it is pronounced with a fourth tone, which can change the meaning entirely if mispronounced. It often appears in phrases such as '顺利' (shùnlì, smooth/successful) and '顺从' (shùncóng, to obey). In formal writing, it is used to denote compliance or favorable conditions.
HSK Study Tips
While '顺' is not currently part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with other words like '顺利' and '顺从'. Students should focus on its usage in phrases and practice with common collocations to enhance their comprehension and fluency.
Cultural Note
'顺' is often associated with the Chinese value of harmony (和谐, héxié), as it emphasizes going along with others and maintaining smooth relationships, which is a significant aspect of Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '顺' with '顺序' (shùnxù, order), mistakenly using it when they mean to refer to the sequence of events. To clarify, remember that '顺' focuses on the idea of following or obeying, while '顺序' specifically denotes the order.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 顺
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 顺 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 顺 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 顺
顺 functions as a preposition (often called a "coverb" in Chinese). It introduces a phrase that comes BEFORE the main verb (我在家吃饭, 给妈妈打电话), unlike English which puts prepositions after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In the union office, the mood gradually changed from resignation to rage.
8
分娩过程最终非常顺利，生了个健康的男婴。
fēn miǎn guò chéng zuì zhōng fēi cháng shùn lì， ， shēng le gè jiàn kāng de nán。
In the end, it was an easy delivery: a fine baby boy.
9
那些曾经恋爱不顺利的人都会同情休。
nà xiē zēng jīng liàn ài bù shùn lì de rén dū huì tóng qíng xiū。
Anyone who has been in a troubled relationship will sympathise with Sue.
10
汗水顺着她那张典型的德国人的脸往下淌。
hàn shuǐ shùn zháo tā nà zhāng diǎn xíng de dé guó rén de liǎn wǎng xià tǎng。
There was sweat pouring over her Teutonic face.
Cultural Notes for 顺
💡Did you know?
'顺' is often used in expressions like '顺其自然' which means 'let it be' or 'go with the flow'. This reflects a harmonious approach to life in Chinese culture.
🏮Cultural insight
'顺' is often associated with the Chinese value of harmony (和谐, héxié), as it emphasizes going along with others and maintaining smooth relationships, which is a significant aspect of Chinese culture.
Word Family of 顺
Words Containing This Character20
顺利shùnlìsmoothly順利
顺便shùnbiànconveniently順便
顺shùnto obey順
顺序shùnxùsequence順序
顺着shùnzheto follow順著
顺手shùnshǒueasily順手
顺畅shùnchàngfluent順暢
顺差shùnchā(trade or budget) surplus順差
顺风lit. tail wind順風
一路顺风yílùshùnfēngto have a pleasant journey (idiom)一路順風
顺路shùnlùby the way順路
理顺to sort out理順
顺从shùncóngobedient順從
顺心shùnxīnhappy順心
顺应shùnyìngto comply順應
顺势shùnshìto take advantage順勢
孝顺xiàoshùnfilial piety孝順
一帆风顺yìfānfēngshùnplain sailing一帆風順
顺其自然shùnqízìránto let nature take its course (idiom)順其自然
顺道on the way順道
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 顺利 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 顺
Common phrases that include 顺 (shùn) are '顺利' (shùnlì), meaning smooth or successful, and '顺其自然' (shùn qí zìrán), meaning to let things take their natural course. These expressions highlight the character's connotation of favorability and ease.
Yes, 顺 (shùn) is frequently used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing plans or agreements. It conveys a sense of cooperation and alignment, making it a useful term in both formal and informal contexts.
顺 (shùn) means to obey, to follow, or to arrange in a reasonable way. It can also imply a sense of being favorable or going along with something. This character is often used in various contexts, including directions and social interactions.
You can use 顺 (shùn) in sentences to express compliance or agreement. For example, you might say '我顺着他的意见走' (I follow his opinion) to show that you are adhering to someone else's suggestion. Additionally, it can be used in contexts like '顺风' (favorable wind) to describe something going smoothly.
Common phrases include '顺利' (shùnlì, smooth/successful) and '顺从' (shùncóng, to obey).
'顺' is pronounced with a falling tone, which is the fourth tone in Mandarin.
Yes, '顺' can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more commonly found in formal writing.
