过继 (guò jì) — to adopt a child (usually from one's extended family) to continue the family line; to have one's child adopted by a relative (for lineage purposes)

Definition

A traditional, formal term for adopting (or having one's child adopted) within an extended family to continue a lineage — usually involves a nephew or younger relative, not a stranger.

verb
to adopt a child (usually from one's extended family) to continue the family lineto have one's child adopted by a relative (for lineage purposes)

Examples

  • 过继。
    Tā xiǎo shí hou bèi guò jì gěi le shū shu jiā.
    He was adopted by his uncle's family when he was young.
  • ，过继。
    Yīn wèi méi yǒu ér zi, tā men jué dìng guò jì yí gè zhí zi.
    Since they had no son, they decided to adopt a nephew.
  • 过继。
    Lǎo zhāng bǎ zì jǐ de xiǎo ér zi guò jì gěi le dì di jiā.
    Old Zhang had his youngest son adopted by his younger brother's family.

Origin

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 過; 过 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
咼
咼wāi過guò
Same sound today

The traditional form 過 pairs 辵 (walk) with 咼 as a sound component; the simplified 过 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 过 →

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.