世代相传 (shì dài xiāng chuán) — to pass down from generation to generation

Definition

Idiom meaning something is handed down, unchanged, through many generations — usually crafts, stories, or family values. Stresses the unbroken chain across time.

idiom
to pass down from generation to generation

Examples

  • 世代相传。
    Zhè xiàng jì yì yǐ jīng shì dài xiāng chuán le shàng qiān nián.
    This craft has been passed down for over a thousand years.
  • 世代相传。
    Tā men jiā zú de jiā xùn shì dài xiāng chuán zhì jīn.
    Their family motto has been passed down to the present day.
  • 世代相传。
    Xǔ duō mín jiān gù shi dōu shì shì dài xiāng chuán de.
    Many folktales are passed down from generation to generation.

Origin

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 世 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì代dài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 代, 亻 shows a person, and 弋 gives the sound.

Open 代 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

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Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 傳; 传 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
專
專zhuān傳chuán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 傳 puts 人 (man) beside 專, which gives the sound; the simplified 传 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not the historical ones.

Open 传 →

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