Definition
祖传 means 'handed down from one's ancestors' — it always implies a family lineage, often for skills, recipes, or heirlooms. 流传 is broader (spreading among people or over time, not necessarily within a family), while 传承 focuses on passing on cultural heritage or traditions, and 继承 is about inheriting property, titles, or abstract legacies.
verb
to be handed down from one's ancestorsto be passed down through generations
Examples
- 祖传。Zhè mén zǔ chuán shǒuyì yǐjīng chuán le wǔ dài le.This ancestral craft has been passed down for five generations.
- 祖传。Wǒmen jiā zǔ chuán de mìfāng cóng bú wài chuán.Our family's secret recipe handed down from ancestors is never shared outside.
- 祖传，。Zhè jiàn yùqì zǔ chuán le sān bǎi nián, fēicháng zhēnguì.This jade artifact has been passed down for three hundred years and is very precious.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.