嗣

sì

口 + 司 + 𠕁

Definitions

sì succession (to a title); to inherit; continuing (a tradition); posterity

Etymology

Depicts inheriting knowledge and wisdom down to descendents through bamboo slips (冊). 司 represents the sound.

Semantic: 冊 Phonetic: 司

About

嗣 is a phono-semantic compound combining 口 (mouth), 册 (bamboo slips for records), and the phonetic 司. It depicts inheritance of knowledge and wisdom through bamboo-slip documents, with 口 indicating the oral proclamation of a successor. The character's original meaning encompasses succession, lineage continuation, and inheritance: 册 suggests formal genealogical records, and 口 the verbal announcement of the heir. Thus, 嗣 refers to an heir, descendant, or the act of inheriting a title or estate, frequently appearing in historical and legal texts about passing power and property to the next generation.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他是家族的后嗣。

Tā shì jiāzú de hòusì.

He is the descendant of the family.

这个孩子是他们的嗣子。

Zhège háizi shì tāmen de sìzǐ.

This child is their heir.

国王嗣位后很英明。

Guówáng sì wèi hòu hěn yīngmíng.

The king was very wise after succeeding to the throne.

他没有子嗣继承家业。

Tā méiyǒu zǐsì jìchéng jiāyè.

He has no children to inherit the family business.

为了延续香火，他们收养了一个嗣子。

Wèile yánxù xiānghuǒ, tāmen shōuyǎng le yí gè sìzǐ.

In order to continue the family line, they adopted an heir.

根据传统，长子有嗣位的权利。

Gēnjù chuántǒng, zhǎngzǐ yǒu sì wèi de quánlì.

According to tradition, the eldest son has the right to succeed.

如果他没有后嗣，财产将由侄子继承。

Rúguǒ tā méiyǒu hòusì, cáichǎn jiāng yóu zhízǐ jìchéng.

If he has no descendants, the property will be inherited by his nephew.

在古代，皇室嗣统的问题常常引发争议。

Zài gǔdài, huángshì sì tǒng de wèntí chángcháng yǐnfā zhēngyì.

In ancient times, the issue of royal succession often sparked controversy.

Related Characters

Component: 口

Component: 司

Component: 𠕁

Example Words