born into a family or trade; coming from a professional background
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb phrase
to come from a family with a specific trade or professional tradition; to be born into the business
dialectA dialectal phrase emphasizing that a person's skills or profession are inherited or deeply ingrained from family background. Often used to explain someone's natural aptitude.
Shuō说
dào到
biàn变
xì戏
fǎ法
，
tā他
shì是
mén门
lǐ里
chū出
shēn身
，
cóng从
xiǎo小
kàn看
zhe着
yé爷
ye爷
liàn练
de的
。
When it comes to magic tricks, he was born into the business, having watched his grandfather practice since he was a child.
Zhè这
jiā家
fàn饭
guǎn馆
de的
lǎo老
bǎn板
shì是
chú厨
zi子
mén门
lǐ里
chū出
shēn身
，
shǒu手
yì艺
shì是
zǔ祖
chuán传
de的
。
The owner of this restaurant comes from a family of chefs; his culinary skills are a family heirloom.
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Nǐ你
bié别
kàn看
tā他
nián年
qīng轻
，
xiū修
lǐ理
qì汽
chē车
kě可
shì是
mén门
lǐ里
chū出
shēn身
，
tā他
bà爸
ba爸
jiù就
shì是
kāi开
le了
jǐ几
shí十
nián年
xiū修
lǐ理
chǎng厂
de的
。
Don't let his age fool you; he was born into the car repair business—his father has run a repair shop for decades.