1To obey or comply with an order, rule, or law; to act in accordance with it.
社員は全員、会社の規則に従わなければならない。
All employees must follow the company's rules.
子どもは意外と親の助言に素直に従う。
Children follow their parents' advice more obediently than you'd expect.
法律に従って、きちんと税金を納めている。
I pay my taxes properly, in accordance with the law.
彼は納得できなかったが、結局は上司の命令に従った。
He wasn't convinced, but in the end he obeyed his boss's orders.
2To follow or accompany a person.
子犬がぴったりと主人に従って歩いている。
The puppy walks closely following its owner.
観光客はガイドに従ってバス乗り場へ向かった。
The tourists followed the guide toward the bus stop.
彼女に従って海外出張についていった。
I accompanied her on the business trip abroad.
3To go alongside or follow a physical line or direction, such as a road, river, or sign.
矢印に従ってこのまま道なりに進んでください。
Please continue along this road, following the arrows.
その道路は川に従って大きく曲がりくねっている。
That road winds along, following the course of the river.
4A somewhat formal or literary sense meaning to serve under someone, or to be engaged in a particular occupation.
若い頃、彼は藩主に従って江戸で働いていたという。
They say that in his youth, he served the feudal lord and worked in Edo.