Meaning of 继承
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to inherit
- to succeed to (the throne etc)
- to carry on (a tradition etc)
How to use 继承
继承 is used for inheriting property, a position, or a tradition, and it often appears in formal or written contexts. Example: 他继承了父亲的公司。(Tā jìchéng le fùqin de gōngsī.) He inherited his father's company.
继 (jì) means to continue, as in 继续 (jìxù), and 承 (chéng) means to receive or take on, as in 承担 (chéngdān). Put them together: you receive something from those before you and continue it.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes use 继承 for simply continuing an action, like 继承工作, when they mean 继续 (jìxù), which is to keep doing something. 继承 needs something passed down from a predecessor, such as 财产, 王位, or 传统.
继承 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
继 jì · to continue · 10 strokes
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承 chéng · to undertake · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 继承.
| 继续 | jìxù | to continue; to proceed with; to go on with |
| 承认 | chéngrèn | to admit; to concede |
| 承受 | chéngshòu | to bear; to support |
| 承担 | chéngdān | to undertake; to assume (responsibility etc) |
| 承办 | chéngbàn | to undertake; to accept a contract |
| 承诺 | chéngnuò | to promise; to undertake to do something |
| 继父 | jìfù | stepfather |
| 继母 | jìmǔ | stepmother |
| 传承 | chuánchéng | to pass on (to future generations); passed on (from former times) |
| 承载 | chéngzài | to bear the weight; to sustain |
| 夜以继日 | yèyǐjìrì | night and day (idiom); continuous strenuous effort |
| 相继 | xiāngjì | in succession; following closely |
Questions about 继承
What does 继承 mean?
继承 (jìchéng) means "to inherit; to succeed to (the throne etc)" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 继承?
继承 is made of 2 characters: 继 (10 strokes), 承 (8 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.
Is 继承 an HSK word?
Yes. 继承 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 继承 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 继承 is written 繼承.
How do you say inheritance or heir with 继承?
Add a noun ending. 遗产 (yíchǎn) is the inherited estate, and 继承人 (jìchéngrén) means heir or successor. 继承权 (jìchéngquán) is the right of inheritance.
What is the difference between 继承 and 传承?
继承 focuses on the person receiving something and carrying it on. 传承 (chuánchéng) stresses passing something down and keeping it alive across generations, and it is common with culture and skills, as in 传承文化.