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遗传 (yí chuán) — to pass on (a trait) to one's offspring; to be inherited (from one's ancestors)

Definition

遗传 focuses on biology — genes/traits passed from ancestors to offspring. 继承 covers inheriting property, titles, or traditions; 传承 adds the sense of actively passing cultural heritage onward.

verb
to pass on (a trait) to one's offspringto be inherited (from one's ancestors)

Examples

  • 遗传。
    Zhè zhǒng jí bìng róng yì yí chuán gěi zǐ nǚ.
    This disease is easily passed on to children.
  • 遗传。
    Tā de yīn yuè tiān fù yí chuán zì tā de mǔ qīn.
    Her musical talent is inherited from her mother.
  • 遗传。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū zhè zhǒng jī yīn shì rú hé yí chuán de.
    Scientists are studying how this gene is inherited.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

遗yípass on
传chuántransmit

Both 遗 and 传 express passing something down, together meaning heredity or to inherit/pass on a trait.

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 遺; 遗 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòmove
Sound part声符shēngfú
貴
貴guì遺yí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 遺 pairs 辶 (move) with 貴 as a sound part; the simplified 遗 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the old sound part.

Open 遗 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Biology5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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