How to Write 随 (suí) — Meaning “To follow / Along with”

Imagine you have a friend with a big ear (阝) who says 'I have (有) to take a walk (辶) — please follow me.' This picture of following someone with a noticeable ear helps you recall the shape and meaning of 随.

Pay attention to the order: first write the left ear (阝), then the upper part 有 (with a horizontal stroke, left-falling, vertical, hook, and two horizontals), and finally the walk radical 辶 below. A common mistake is forgetting the dot on the top-left of 辶, so always include that dot.

All three share the left ear radical 阝, but their right sides are different. 随 has 有 plus 辶, while 郗 has 希 (meaning 'hope') and 郛 has 孚 (meaning 'trust'). 郗 and 郛 are rare (郗 is a surname; 郛 means 'outer city wall'), whereas 随 is very common and means 'to follow'.

You'll see 随 in everyday words like 随便 (casual, as in '随便吃' – eat whatever), 随时 (at any time, like '随时联系' – contact anytime), and 随手 (conveniently, like '随手关门' – close the door as you go). Using 随便 too much can sound dismissive, so it's polite to be specific when needed.

Common words containing 随 include: 随便 (suí biàn) — Casual / As one pleases / Random; 随时 (suí shí) — At any time / Whenever; 随手 (suí shǒu) — Conveniently / In passing / Without extra effort.