顺从
shùn cóng · HSK 7
obedient
🐑 顺 follow-smoothly + 从 follow = both mean follow, so you go along and obey
Both characters carry the sense of following: 顺 is going along smoothly with the flow, 从 is following or complying with someone. Stack the two follow-words and you get 顺从 = falling in line, submitting, deferring.
顺 — 川 (river) + 页 (head/face)
顺 combines 川 (flowing river) with 页 (head), originally depicting a head turned to follow the flow of water. The image of going along with the current gave rise to meanings like 'to follow,' 'smooth,' and 'in order.' It remains tied to ideas of compliance and natural sequence.
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.