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上溯 (shàng sù) — to sail upstream; to trace back to (historical origins, tradition, ancestor)

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to trace back to' (an origin, tradition, or historical source) — the abstract figurative sense, not just literal sailing upstream.

verb
to sail upstreamto trace back to (historical origins, tradition, ancestor)

Examples

  • 溯。
    Xiǎo chuán zài jiāng shàng nì shuǐ shàng sù.
    The small boat sailed upstream against the current on the river.
  • 上溯。
    Zhè ge xí sú kě yǐ shàng sù dào táng dài.
    This custom can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty.
  • 上溯。
    Tā huā le duō nián shí jiān shàng sù jiā zú lì shǐ.
    He spent many years tracing back his family history.

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