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继位 (jì wèi) — to succeed to the throne

Definition

A formal/historical term meaning 'to succeed to the throne'. Used for monarchs ascending to power; less common than 上任 for general leadership roles.

verb
to succeed to the throne

Examples

  • 继位。
    Tài zǐ zài huáng dì qù shì hòu jì wèi.
    The crown prince succeeded to the throne after the emperor died.
  • ，。
    Tā jì le wèi zhī hòu, lì jí gǎi gé.
    After he succeeded to the throne, he immediately reformed.
  • 继位。
    Lì shǐ shàng yǒu hěn duō xiōng dì zhēng duó jì wèi de gù shi.
    There are many stories in history of brothers fighting for the throne.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

继jìsucceed
位wèiposition

“继” means to succeed or continue and “位” means position; succeeding to a position is inheriting the throne.

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 繼; 继 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìrope
Sound part声符shēngfú
㡭
㡭㡭繼jì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 繼 pairs 糸 (rope) with 㡭 as a sound part; an older form may have shown four silk strands. The simplified 继 is only a later shorthand.

Open 继 →

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
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
立
立lì位wèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

位 combines 人 (man), related to people, with 立, which gives the sound. It was often simply written as 立.

Open 位 →
Appears in
Government & PoliticsHistory

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