TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 · 字
跟
跟 ＝ 足 ＋ 艮
ㄍㄣ · gēn
verb — to follow; prep — with, and
字源 FORM — what the parts do
艮聲gèn — gives the sound
Tgèn → gēn — only the tone levels
The foot's (足) back end — 說文: the heel. 艮 gives the sound, tone leveled to gēn. From the heel to walking at someone's heels, then to "with": 跟著、跟我來、我跟你.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
孩子踩著大人的腳（足）印，一步一步跟著走。
The child steps into the grown-up's footprints (足), one by one, following.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)腳跟— the heel
→跟著、跟隨— to follow — at the heels常用
⇒跟— with; and常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension