Japanese word

伝統

Pronunciation

Romajidentō

Meaning

  • nountradition

Example

家族の伝統を大切にします。ka zoku no den tō o tai setsu ni shi ma su

I value my family's tradition.

Illustration for 伝統 (tradition)

More examples

地域の伝統を次の世代に伝えます。chi iki no den tō o tsugi no se dai ni tsuta e ma su

We pass the local tradition on to the next generation.

Core concept

Describes customs, values, or ways of living that a group carries forward across generations.

Common phrases

  • 伝統を守るden tō o mamo ru

    preserve a tradition

  • 伝統を受け継ぐden tō o u ke tsu gu

    carry on the tradition

  • 伝統に従うden tō ni shitaga u

    follow tradition

Similar words

習慣shūkan: A practice repeated regularly by a person or group, whether or not it is inherited.
しきたりshikitari: An established custom that people are expected to follow in a group.

Definition in Japanese

ある社会や集団で、世代を超えて受け継がれてきた習慣や考え方。a ru sha kai ya shū dan de se dai o ko e te u ke tsu ga re te ki ta shū kan ya kanga e kata

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 伝統 (dentō) combines 伝 (den, "transmit") and 統 (tō, "unify"), expressing practices and ideas passed down and maintained over time.

Usage tips

  • In everyday English, tradition is often used with verbs such as preserve, follow, and break to describe how people treat an established practice.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word