从此
cóngcǐ · HSK 4
henceforth
➡️ 从 = follow + 此 = this — follow from this point onward
从 means 'from/follow' and 此 means 'this/here'. Together: 'from this' → henceforth, from now on. Often pairs with 以后 (从此以后 = from then on).
从 — two 人 (person) figures, one following the other
从 is a pictographic compound showing one person walking behind another, vividly depicting the act of following. The original meaning 'to follow' was extended to 'from' (the starting point one follows out of) and 'to obey'. The traditional form 從 added 辵 (movement) and 止 (foot) to reinforce the walking sense.
此 — foot 止 + spoon/person 匕
此 originally depicted a person (匕) standing with a foot (止), suggesting 'to stop here' or 'this place.' Over time the meaning generalized from a specific location to the demonstrative pronoun 'this.' The foot component still hints at the original sense of standing in a particular spot.