Soil organic matter (SOM) comprises a vast range of different organic constitutes with a mean residence time ranging from days to millennia. The individual components such as carbohydrates, protein and lignin play different roles in the accumulation and transformation of SOM, thus making different contributions to the cycling of soil carbon. Considering the stability of the components, isotope tracing technique is powerful to trace their dynamics in SOM turnover. A review was given in this paper on the origin, availability and transformation of some essential organic compounds in soil relied on stable isotope techniques. It would be helpful for a better understanding of the dynamics and mechanisms of SOM cycling.