一代代 (yī dài dài) — generation after generation; from generation to…

Definition

Repetition of 代 emphasizes 'generation after generation' — marks an ongoing pattern across multiple generations rather than one. Typically modifies a verb or noun phrase (一代代传下来).

numeral

generation after generationfrom generation to generation

Examples

一代代。
Zhè ge chuán tǒng yǐ jīng yī dài dài chuán xià lái le.
This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation.
一代代。
yī dài dài De zhì huì hé jīng yàn zhí dé wǒ men xué xí.
The wisdom and experience of generations are worth learning from.
一代代。
Tā men jiā zú yī dài dài dōu cóng shì nóng yè.
Their family has been engaged in agriculture for generations.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

一yīone

代代generation after generation

代dàigeneration代dàigeneration

重叠Reduplication

一 gives 'one', and 代代 gives 'generation after generation'; together they mean 'generation after generation'.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

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

亻弋代

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 →