従う・随う・順う・遵う|したがうshitagau[0]heiban (flat)

1. godan verb, intransitive verbto obey (an order, law, etc.); to abide by (a rule, custom, etc.); to follow; to observe; to conform to; to yield to
   善良ぜんりょうな市民しみんは法律ほうりつに従したがう。↗

   A good citizen obeys the laws.
2. godan verb, intransitive verbto follow (a person); to accompany; to go with
3. godan verb, intransitive verbto go alongside (e.g. a river); to follow (e.g. a sign)
4. godan verb, intransitive verbto serve (as); to engage in (work)

• Synonym遵守じゅんしゅWrittenWritten/formal: strict observance of laws and rules, as in 「法令遵守」. More formal than 「従う」 and used for compliance, not for following a person.
• Synonym準じるじゅんじるWrittenIn 「～に準じる」, means to be based on a standard or treated as comparable, e.g. 「正社員に準じる待遇」. Does not cover obeying orders.
• Synonym準ずるじゅんずるWrittenAnother form of 「準じる」 with the same sense; still common, especially in writing. Covers being treated on a par with a standard, not obeying orders.
• Synonym服従ふくじゅうWrittenObedience/submission to another's commands or will, as in 「命令に服従する」. Limited to commands and will; no sense of following someone or going along a route.
• Synonym服するふくするWrittenWritten/formal: to obey or submit, and also to serve a sentence or observe mourning, as in 「刑に服する」「喪に服する」.
• Synonym準拠じゅんきょWrittenBeing based on standards, specifications or laws, as in 「JIS準拠」「法令に準拠」. Unlike 「従う」, it never means obeying a person or following along.
• Synonym守るまもるNeutralNeutral everyday word: to keep promises or rules, as in 「約束を守る」, and also to protect. 「従う」 stresses obeying and following.
• SynonymついていくNeutralColloquial: to go along behind someone or keep up with them, as in 「授業についていく」; the focus is on accompanying and keeping pace.
• Synonym付き添うつきそうNeutralTo accompany someone to look after them, as in 「病人に付き添う」; the focus is on care and attendance.
• Synonym随伴ずいはんWrittenWritten/formal: to accompany a person as an attendant, or to occur alongside something, as in 「随伴する現象」.
• Synonym遵奉じゅんぽうWrittenWritten and now rare: reverent observance of laws or doctrines. In modern usage 「遵守」 is the normal choice.
• Synonym則るのっとるWrittenWritten/formal: to take rules or precedent as one's guide, as in 「法に則って処理する」.
• Synonym随順ずいじゅんWrittenWritten and rare today: meek, submissive compliance.
• Synonym服すふくすWrittenA variant of 「服する」: to obey, serve a sentence or go into mourning; written in tone.
• RelatedならうWrittenTo imitate or model oneself on a precedent or example, as in 「前例に倣う」; the emphasis is on copying how something is done.
• Related即するそくするWrittenWritten/formal: to fit or accord with the facts, as in 「実情に即する」; about conformity to reality, not obedience.
• Related添うそうNeutralTo meet expectations, as in 「期待に添う」, or to stay at someone's side; close to 「従う」 in the sense of going along with.
• Related踏襲とうしゅうWrittenTo carry on a former policy or practice unchanged, as in 「前任者の方針を踏襲する」; about continuity, not obedience.
• Related付き従うつきしたがうNeutralTo follow at someone's side and serve as a subordinate, as in 「主君に付き従う」; stronger than 「従う」 about staying by a person.
• Antonym反するはんするWrittenAntonym, written in tone: to violate or run counter to, as in 「規則に反する」; the opposite of following rules.
• Antonym逆らうさからうNeutralAntonym: to defy or go against, as in 「親に逆らう」「流れに逆らう」; the direct opposite of obeying or following.

「従う」 covers obeying orders, following rules and going along with or after someone. For keeping promises or rules use 「守る」; for formal compliance with laws use 「遵守」; for being based on a standard use 「準拠」 (or 「準じる」 for comparable treatment); for following at a person's side use 「付き従う」. To go against rules or people, use 「逆らう」 or, in writing, 「反する」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 先さきに進すすむ人ひとについて行いく。
2. 先さきに行いった者ものと、同おなじ行動こうどうをとる。追従ついじゅうする。
3. 【随したがう】目上めうえの人ひとと行動こうどうを共ともにする。随行ずいこうする。
4. 【遵したがう】規則きそくや命令めいれいの通とおりに行動こうどうする。順守じゅんしゅする。
5. ある勢力せいりょくの配下はいかとなる。服従ふくじゅうする。恭順きょうじゅんする。
6. 物事ものごとが因果いんが関係かんけいなどの順序じゅんじょどおりに起おこる。
7. あるものの変化へんかに合あわせて変化へんかする。