承袭 (chéng xí) — to inherit, adopt, or follow (a tradition, style, rank, etc.)

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to inherit or carry on' a tradition, style, or title across generations. Stronger and more formal than 继承, with a sense of preserving and continuing rather than simply receiving.

verb
to inheritadoptor follow (a tradition, style, rank, etc.)

Examples

  • 承袭。
    Zhè zhǒng yì shù fēng gé chéng xí le táng dài de tè diǎn.
    This artistic style inherits features of the Tang dynasty.
  • 承袭。
    Tā chéng xí le fù qīn de jué wèi.
    He inherited his father's title.
  • 承袭。
    Zhè ge jiā zú chéng xí le gǔ lǎo de chuán tǒng.
    This family has inherited ancient traditions.

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.

承chénginherit
袭xíinherit

承 (inherit) and 袭 (inherit) reinforce the idea of taking over a tradition or rank.

Characters in this word

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 →

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 襲; 袭 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衣衣yīcloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
龖
龖dá襲xí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 襲, 衣 shows cloth and 龖 gives the sound; the simplified 袭 is a later shorthand, so its visible parts are not the historical components.

Open 袭 →

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