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从cóngfrom; through; via

HSK 2word

By Chinese Copilot · Last updated

从 (cóng) means "from," "through," or "via." It is a function word for a starting point in space or time. Use 从…到… for a range of times or places, as in from one city to another when someone moves or a period begins. This entry is the from/via reading, not the surname Cong.

What does 从 mean?

  1. 1.

    from; through; viapreposition

What does the character 从 mean?

  • 从from; through; via

How do you use 从?

Grammar patterns

  1. 1

    从 + Place 1 + 到 + Place 2

    Use 从 before the starting place and 到 before the end place for "from … to …" in space.

  2. 2

    从 + Time 1 + 到 + Time 2

    The same 从…到… pattern works for times or events: from one time until another.

从 usually needs a following place or time, and often pairs with 到 for a full "from … to …" range.

Patterns

  • 从 + Place + 到 + Place

    从家到学校。

    Cóng jiā dào xuéxiào.

    From home to school.

  • 从 + Time + 到 + Time

    从现在到明天。

    Cóng xiànzài dào míngtiān.

    From now until tomorrow.

  • 从 + Place + 来 / 去

    我从公司来。

    Wǒ cóng gōngsī lái.

    I come from the office.

What are some examples of 从 in a sentence?

  1. HSK 1

    从家到学校。

    Cóng jiā dào xuéxiào.

    From home to school.

  2. HSK 1

    从现在到明天。

    Cóng xiànzài dào míngtiān.

    From now until tomorrow.

  3. HSK 1

    我从公司来。

    Wǒ cóng gōngsī lái.

    I come from the office / company.

  4. HSK 1

    从早到晚都很忙。

    Cóng zǎo dào wǎn dōu hěn máng.

    From morning to night, (I/we are) very busy.

How is 从 different from 在?

在 marks being at a location. 从 marks a starting point for movement or a from-to range. 我在学校 means I am at school; 我从学校来 means I come from school.

Only 从 fits here

我从公司来。

Wǒ cóng gōngsī lái.

I come from the office / company.

How is 从 used in a conversation?

  1. Speaker A:

    你从哪儿来？

    Nǐ cóng nǎr lái?

    Where do you come from?

  2. Speaker B:

    我从公司来。

    Wǒ cóng gōngsī lái.

    I come from the office.

  3. Speaker A:

    从家到学校远吗？

    Cóng jiā dào xuéxiào yuǎn ma?

    Is it far from home to school?

  4. Speaker B:

    不远，很快。

    Bù yuǎn, hěn kuài.

    Not far, it's quick.

  5. Speaker A:

    从现在到明天你可以来吗？

    Cóng xiànzài dào míngtiān nǐ kěyǐ lái ma?

    Can you come anytime from now until tomorrow?

  6. Speaker B:

    可以，我都在。

    Kěyǐ, wǒ dōu zài.

    Yes, I'll be around the whole time.

Can you use 从 correctly?

0 of 3 answered
  1. 1.Fill in the blank: ___家到学校。
  2. 2.Which sentence means "I come from the office"?
  3. 3.Fill in the blank: ___现在到明天。

What should you learn next?

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English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.