世世代代 (shì shì dài dài) — for generations, generation after generation

Definition

A bound adverbial phrase meaning 'for generations, generation after generation' — used as a set modifier before verbs like 流传, 相传, 传承 to stress something passed down through many generations.

bound form

for generationsgeneration after generation

Examples

世世代代。
Zhè běn shū de gù shi yǐ jīng shì shì dài dài liú chuán xià lái le.
The stories in this book have been passed down for generations.
世世代代。
Tā men jiā zú de jì yì shì shì dài dài xiāng chuán.
The skills of their family have been handed down from generation to generation.
世世代代。
Wǒ men yīng dāng bǎ zhè zhǒng jīng shén shì shì dài dài chuán chéng xià qù.
We should carry this spirit forward for generations.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

世世

世shìgeneration世shìgeneration

代代

代dàigeneration代dàigeneration

Repeating 世 and 代, both meaning generation, gives generation after generation.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 世 →

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.

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 →