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继承 (jì chéng) — to inherit (property, money, traits); to succeed to (a title, throne, position); to carry on (a tradition, legacy)

Definition

继承 covers inheriting property, succeeding to a title/throne, and carrying on a tradition. For inheriting physical property, 承受 focuses on enduring/shouldering (pressure, responsibility); for inherited family traits use 遗传.

verb
to inherit (property, money, traits)to succeed to (a title, throne, position)to carry on (a tradition, legacy)

Examples

  • 继承。
    Tā jì chéng le fù qīn de fáng zi.
    He inherited his father's house.
  • 继承。
    Wǒ men yào jì chéng zhè ge yōu xiù de chuán tǒng.
    We must carry on this excellent tradition.
  • 继承。
    Tā jì chéng le wáng wèi.
    He succeeded to the throne.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

继jìcarry on
承chéngreceive

继 means carry on and 承 means receive, together they mean to inherit or carry on.

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 →

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

  • 卩卩jiékneeling person
  • 廾廾gǒngboth hands

承 combines 卩, a kneeling person, and 廾, both hands, to show holding or carrying.

Open 承 →
Appears in
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