顺 shùn to submit to
How to remember 顺: 川 river + 页 page = to submit to. The kayaker sees the wild river, reads the warning page at the start and decides it is wiser to submit to the current than fight it.
Component breakdown
顺 = 川 river + 页 page
- 川 river
- 页 page
The kayaker sees the wild river, reads the warning page at the start and decides it is wiser to submit to the current than fight it.
How it is used
- Core idea: going with the flow/direction, no resistance. 顺利 (shùnlì) = smoothly, without a hitch: 一切顺利 (yíqiè shùnlì) all going well.
- 顺便 (shùnbiàn) = while you're at it / on the way: 顺便买点菜 (shùnbiàn mǎi diǎn cài) grab some groceries on the way.
- Also 顺序 (shùnxù) order/sequence; opposite direction is 逆 (nì, against) - 逆风 (nìfēng) a headwind.
Words with 顺
- 顺利shùnlìgo smoothlyHSK 4
- 顺便shùnbiànconvenientlyHSK 4
- 顺序shùnxùsequenceHSK 4
- 一路顺风yílù-shùnfēngto have a pleasant journey (idiom)HSK 5
- 一帆风顺yìfān-fēngshùnpropitious wind throughout the journeyHSK 6
- 通顺tōngshùnsmoothHSK 7
- 顺从shùncóngobedientHSK 7
- 顺其自然shùnqízìránto let nature take its course (idiom)HSK 7
- 顺差shùnchāsurplusHSK 7
- 顺应shùnyìngto comply withHSK 7
- 顺心shùnxīnhappyHSK 7
- 顺手shùnshǒuas an incidental action while doing something elseHSK 7
- 顺理成章shùnlǐ-chéngzhānglogicalHSK 7
- 顺路shùnlùby the wayHSK 7
- 孝顺xiàoshùnfilialHSK 8
- 顺势shùnshìto take advantageHSK 9
- 顺延shùnyánto be postponed accordinglyHSK 9
- 顺畅shùnchàngsmooth and unhinderedHSK 9
Example sentences
- 请把蜡烛顺次排列。 Qǐng bǎ làzhú shùncì páiliè.Please arrange these candles in order.
- 生产按顺序进行。 Shēngchǎn àn shùnxù jìnxíng.Production is proceeding according to the (established) sequence.
- 她顺利地产下了儿子。 Tā shùnlì de chǎnxiàle érzi.She safely gave birth to a boy.
- 她工作之余顺便在巴黎游玩。 Tā gōngzuò zhī yú shùnbiàn zài Bālí yóuwán.She travels to Paris when she gets time off from work.