子孙后代 (zǐ sūn hòu dài) — descendants; posterity

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'future generations' or 'descendants' across many generations. Often paired with 祖先 to frame a contrast between past and future (e.g. 造福子孙后代 'benefit posterity').

noun
descendantsposterity

Examples

  • 子孙后代。
    Bǎo hù huán jìng shì wèi le zǐ sūn hòu dài de fú zhǐ.
    Protecting the environment is for the well-being of future generations.
  • 子孙后代。
    Zǔ xiān liú xià de wén huà yí chǎn yào chuán gěi zǐ sūn hòu dài.
    The cultural heritage left by our ancestors must be passed on to posterity.
  • 子孙后代。
    Zhè xiàng gōng chéng jiāng zào fú zǐ sūn hòu dài.
    This project will benefit generations to come.

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.

子孙descendants
子zǐchild孙sūngrandchild
联合Side by side
后代later generations
后hòulater代dàigeneration
偏正Modifier + head

子孙 (children and grandchildren) and 后代 (later generations) together mean descendants.

Characters in this word

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 孫; 孙 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 孫 pairs 子 (son) with 系 (continue), showing a line of descendants continuing. The simplified 孙 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 孙 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →

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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