master-apprentice transmission; knowledge passed down
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
master-apprentice transmission; knowledge or skills passed down through generations
literaryLiterally describes firewood burning continuously (as one piece burns out, the next catches fire); figuratively used for academic, artistic, or cultural inheritance. Often used to praise the continuity of traditions.
Gǔ古
qín琴
yì艺
shù术
yī依
kào靠
shī师
tú徒
zhì制
xīn薪
jìn尽
huǒ火
chuán传
，
yán延
xù续
zhì至
jīn今
。
The art of the guqin has continued to this day through master-apprentice transmission.
Suī虽
ēn恩
shī师
yǐ已
gù故
，
dàn但
xīn薪
jìn尽
huǒ火
chuán传
，
tā他
de的
xué学
shù术
sī思
xiǎng想
yóu由
dì弟
zǐ子
men们
jì继
chéng承
fā发
yáng扬
。
Though the revered teacher has passed away, his academic legacy lives on through his students.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
chuán传
tǒng统
shǒu手
gōng工
yì艺
xīn薪
jìn尽
huǒ火
chuán传
，
quán全
kào靠
lǎo老
yì艺
rén人
dài带
tú徒
dì弟
。
This traditional craft is passed down through generations entirely through old masters taking on apprentices.