Definition
子嗣 is a formal, literary term for 'male offspring' or 'sons', carrying strong connotations of patrilineal lineage and inheritance in traditional Chinese culture. It appears in historical texts, legal documents, and formal speech, but is rarely used in everyday conversation — you would say 儿子 instead. The word emphasizes the continuation of the family line, not just any child.
n.
(formal/literary) male offspringson (as heir or lineage continuer)
Examples
- 子嗣。Gǔdài dìwáng fēicháng zhòngshì zǐ sì de chuánchéng.Ancient emperors placed great importance on the continuation of male offspring.
- ，子嗣。Tā jiā sān dài dān chuán, zhǐ yǒu zhè yí gè zǐ sì.His family has had only one son per generation for three generations.
- 子嗣。Zhè fèn yízhǔ míngquè guīdìng le zǐ sì de jìchéng quán.This will clearly stipulates the inheritance rights of male offspring.
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