传Tone 2

chuán ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 亻

传 · chuán

to transmit;

to pass on;

to spread;

to convey;

to hand down;

biography

to transmitto pass onto spread

Usage highlights

to transmittraditionbiographyto pass onlegendto spread rumors

Synonyms

递— to pass, to hand over
播— to broadcast, to spread
授— to teach, to impart

Antonyms

收— to receive, to collect
断— to break, to cut off
止— to stop, to cease

Usage & contexts

Examples

He passed on the message (传话).
This tradition has been handed down for generations (传统).
The news spread quickly (传播 quickly).
I'm reading a biography (传记).

Collocations

to transmit(传播)
tradition(传统)
biography(传记)
to pass on(传递)
legend(传说)
to spread rumors(传谣)

Idioms

To spread from mouth to mouth(口口相传)
To pass on the torch(传薪)
To be widely spread(广为流传)
To pass on skills to deserving students(传道授业)

Cultural background

Central to Confucian emphasis on transmitting cultural values and knowledge across generations.
In Buddhism, refers to transmission of teachings from master to disciple.
Important concept in Chinese historiography for biographical writing.

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