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继往开来 (jì wǎng kāi lái) — (idiom) to carry on the past and open up the future; to serve as a bridge between earlier and later stages

Definition

A formal written idiom meaning to inherit past legacy and pioneer what comes next — the parallel structure (继…开来) marks it as high-register, for speeches or official writing rather than daily speech.

idiom
to carry on the past and open up the futureto serve as a bridge between earlier and later stages

Examples

  • 继往开来，。
    Wǒ men yào jì wǎng kāi lái, chuàng zào gèng hǎo de wèi lái.
    We must build on the past and create a better future.
  • 继往开来，。
    Zhè ge qǐ yè jì wǎng kāi lái, fā zhǎn hěn kuài.
    This company carries forward the legacy and develops rapidly.
  • 继往开来。
    jì wǎng kāi lái Shì xīn shí dài qīng nián de zé rèn.
    Carrying forward the past and opening up the future is the responsibility of youth in the new era.

Origin

Characters in this word

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 繼; 继 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìrope
Sound part声符shēngfú
㡭
㡭㡭繼jì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 繼 pairs 糸 (rope) with 㡭 as a sound part; an older form may have shown four silk strands. The simplified 继 is only a later shorthand.

Open 继 →

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
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
王
王wáng往wǎng
Same sound today

The form that became 往 paired 止, a foot, with 王 for the sound; a stepping part was later added, and the right side changed.

Open 往 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 開; 开 is its simplified writing.

  • 門門méndoor
  • 一一yīlatch and/or wooden pole that shuts a door
  • 廾廾gǒnga pair of hands

The traditional form 開 shows 廾, a pair of hands, and 一, a latch or pole, inside 門, a door: hands opening a latched door. The simplified 开 is a shorthand form, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 开 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →
Appears in
HSK 2.0 Level 6

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