cyun4 zung1 zip3 doi6傳宗接代传宗接代
Definition
To produce offspring to continue the family line, typically by having a male heir.
How it's used
This idiom carries a heavy weight of traditional patriarchal values, specifically the expectation that a son is required to keep the family name alive. It is rarely used in casual, lighthearted conversation and often appears in contexts involving family pressure, marriage expectations, or discussions about traditional values. While it technically refers to producing offspring, it is almost exclusively associated with the gendered duty of having a male child.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a neutral term for having children, but it is highly specific to the cultural concept of continuing a lineage through a male heir. Using it to describe simply having a baby can sound overly formal, archaic, or unintentionally heavy.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
