真传 (zhēn chuán) — (verb) to be taught the true essence (of a skill, art, or knowledge) through direct transmission from the master

Definition

真传 (zhēn chuán) refers to the authentic essence of a skill or art, handed down directly from master to disciple — knowledge you cannot get from books or self-study alone.

verb
to be taught the true essence (of a skill, art, or knowledge) through direct transmission from the master

Examples

  • 真传。
    Tā shì wéi yī dé dào shī fu zhēn chuán de dì zǐ.
    He is the only disciple who received the true transmission from the master.
  • 真传。
    Zhè tào quán fǎ de zhēn chuán zhī chuán gěi le jǐ gè tú dì.
    The true essence of this boxing style was passed down to only a few apprentices.
  • 真传，。
    Méi yǒu zhēn chuán, guāng kào zì xué hěn nán zhǎng wò jīng suǐ.
    Without direct transmission from a master, it's hard to grasp the essence just by self-study.

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.

真zhēntrue
传chuántransmit

真 'true' and 传 'transmit' combine to give genuine direct teaching.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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 →

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