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如影隨形

简如影随形 · 繁如影隨形

Mandarin · pinyin rú yǐng suí xíng

(lit.) as the shadow follows the body (idiom)
(fig.) closely associated with each other; inseparable; to follow relentlessly

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Characters in this entry

如: rú · if, supposing; as if; like, as
影: yǐng · shadow; image, reflection; photograph
隨: Look up this written character
形: xíng · form, shape, appearance
随: suí · follow, listen to, submit to

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

2–3–2–2 · ru2 ying3 sui2 xing2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

如影隨形 · find source passages ↗ · 如影随形 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

jyu4 jing2 ceoi4 jing4

Cantonese word readings for 如影隨形. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(simile) closely associated with each other; inseparable

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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