上溯 (shǎng) — to sail upstream; to trace back to (historical origins, tradition, ancestor)

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to trace back to' (an origin, tradition, or historical source) — the abstract figurative sense, not just literal sailing upstream.

verb
to sail upstreamto trace back to (historical origins, tradition, ancestor)

Examples

  • Xiǎo chuán zài jiāng shàng nì shuǐ shǎng.
    The small boat sailed upstream against the current on the river.
  • 上溯
    Zhè ge xí sú kě yǐ shǎng dào táng dài.
    This custom can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty.
  • 上溯
    Tā huā le duō nián shí jiān shǎng jiā zú lì shǐ.
    He spent many years tracing back his family history.

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