传宗接代 (chuán zōng jiē dài) — to carry on the family line; to continue the family lineage

Definition

A traditional Chinese idiom for continuing the family bloodline by having children (often a son). Reflects an old-fashioned cultural value, now often used when discussing how views on this idea are changing.

idiom
to carry on the family lineto continue the family lineage

Examples

  • 传宗接代。
    Hěn duō lǎo rén rèn wéi chuán zōng jiē dài shì rén shēng zuì zhòng yào de shì.
    Many elderly people believe that carrying on the family line is the most important thing in life.
  • ，传宗接代。
    Tā jié hūn hòu yì zhí xiǎng yào gè ér zi, jiù shì wèi le chuán zōng jiē dài.
    After getting married, he always wanted a son — just to continue the family line.
  • ，传宗接代。
    Xiàn dài shè huì lǐ, chuán zōng jiē dài de guān niàn yǐ jīng bú xiàng yǐ qián nà me zhòng yào le.
    In modern society, the concept of carrying on the family line is no longer as important as before.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

传宗carry on lineage
传chuántransmit宗zōnglineage
动宾Verb + object
接代continue generations
接jiēcontinue代dàigeneration
动宾Verb + object

传宗 and 接代 both speak of carrying on the family line; together they mean continuing the lineage.

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 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 →

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

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 示示shìspirit tablet

宗 pairs 宀, a house, with 示, a spirit tablet, to show an ancestral shrine or temple.

Open 宗 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
妾
妾qiè接jiē
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 扌 shows a hand, matching the sense of receiving something in the hand, while 妾 gives the character its sound.

Open 接 →

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 →

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