Chinese word

传统

Pronunciation

Pinyinchuán tǒng

Meaning

  • nountradition

Example

我们要保护传统。wǒ men yào bǎo hù chuán tǒng

We need to protect tradition.

Illustration for 传统 (tradition)

More examples

一些年轻人不太遵守传统习俗。yì xiē nián qīng rén bú tài zūn shǒu chuán tǒng xí sú

Some young people do not strictly follow traditional customs.

Core concept

An inherited thread of customs, beliefs, or rituals that keeps a community connected across generations.

Common phrases

  • 传统文化chuán tǒng wén huà

    traditional culture

  • 传统习俗chuán tǒng xí sú

    traditional customs

  • 保持传统bǎo chí chuán tǒng

    maintain tradition

  • 继承传统jì chéng chuán tǒng

    carry on the tradition

Similar words

习俗xí sú: A long-established way of living or set of social practices in a community.
风俗fēng sú: The customary way of life and traditional events of a particular place or ethnic group.
文化遗产wén huà yí chǎn: An object or practice with historical and cultural value that is kept for later generations.

Definition in Chinese

在社会或家庭中世代相传的风俗、习惯、信仰或仪式，具有历史连续性并能体现群体认同。zài shè huì huò jiā tíng zhōng shì dài xiāng chuán de fēng sú xí guàn xìn yǎng huò yí shì jù yǒu lì shǐ lián xù xìng bìng néng tǐ xiàn qún tǐ rèn tóng

Word origin

传统 (chuántǒng, "tradition") combines 传 (chuán, "pass on") with 统 (tǒng, "system or continuity"), presenting a way of life as something handed down in an organized line.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this noun commonly follows verbs about protecting, inheriting, or changing shared practices, so it helps frame discussions about keeping old ways or updating them.

Other meanings

  • traditionaladjective
  • customnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 传统的chuán tǒng detraditionaladjective
  • 传统上chuán tǒng shàngtraditionallyadverb

Word lists with this word