Definitions

chuán (verb) to pass on; to spread; to transmit
chuán (verb) to transfer; to conduct (electricity)
zhuàn (noun) biography; historical narrative

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "传" originates from its traditional form "傳", structurally composed of the person radical "人" alongside the component "專", which implies a concentrated or specialized action, together suggesting the role of an individual in conveying or transferring something. Its earliest core meaning centered on the act of passing something along, such as objects or commands, but over time its semantic scope widened to include the broader dissemination of knowledge, traditions, and doctrines, as well as the process of teaching. This expansion further led to its use in denoting a written account of a life, as seen in the compound "传记". The simplified form "传" retains the person radical while incorporating "专", the simplified version of "專", thus preserving the essential idea of focused transmission through a streamlined graphical structure.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个消息很快遍了学校。

Zhège xiāoxi hěn kuài chuánbiàn le xuéxiào.

This news quickly spread throughout the school.

统文化需要代代相

Chuántǒng wénhuà xūyào dàidàixiāngchuán.

Traditional culture needs to be passed down from generation to generation.

他负责播公司的品牌文化。

Tā fùzé chuánbō gōngsī de pǐnpái wénhuà.

He is responsible for spreading the company's brand culture.

互联网加速了信息的播速度。

Hùliánwǎng jiāsù le xìnxī de chuánbō sùdù.

The internet has accelerated the speed of information dissemination.

这个古老的说在村里流了很久。

Zhège gǔlǎo de chuánshuō zài cūn li liúchuán le hěn jiǔ.

This ancient legend has been circulating in the village for a long time.

这项技艺由师傅郑重地给了他的弟子。

Zhè xiàng jìyì yóu shīfu zhèngzhòng de chuán gěi le tā de dìzi.

This skill was solemnly passed down by the master to his disciple.

这位记者因播虚假信息受到谴责。

Zhè wèi jìzhě yīn chuánbō xūjiǎ xìnxī shòudào qiǎnzé.

This journalist was condemned for spreading false information.

精神财富的承比物质财富更为重要。

Jīngshén cáifù de chuánchéng bǐ wùzhì cáifù gèng wéi zhòngyào.

The inheritance of spiritual wealth is more important than that of material wealth.