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従
“to obey / to follow” in Japanese is 従, read juu, shou, shita (じゅう, しょう, した). It is a Grade 6 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 6 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 従来 (up to now).
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What does 従 mean?
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ルールに従う。
ルールにしたがう。I follow the rules.
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Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 従 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | to obey / to follow |
| Readings | じゅう, しょう, した |
| Grade | Grade 6 (Hardest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 従来 (up to now) |
How to read 従
従 is read juu (じゅう) or shou (しょう) or shita (した) depending on the word.
Words with 従
- 従来
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Kanji read the same way as 従
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
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Updated: 2026-08-28