継承|けいしょうkeishou[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbinheritance; succession; accession
    彼かれは王位おういを継承けいしょうすることになっていた。↗
    He was to succeed to the throne.
  2. noun, lawshare-alike
  3. noun, suru verb, transitive verb, computinginheritance
Conjugation
Dictionary form継承する(けいしょうする)
Polite (masu)継承します(けいしょうします)
Negative (nai)継承しない(けいしょうしない)
polite (masen)継承しません(けいしょうしません)
classical zu / nu継承せず・継承せぬ(けいしょうせず・けいしょうせぬ)
Past (ta)継承した(けいしょうした)
polite (mashita)継承しました(けいしょうしました)
Past negative (nakatta)継承しなかった(けいしょうしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)継承しませんでした(けいしょうしませんでした)
Te form継承して(けいしょうして)
Potential継承できる(けいしょうできる)
Passive継承される(けいしょうされる)
Causative継承させる(けいしょうさせる)
Causative passive継承させられる(けいしょうさせられる)
Conditional (ba)継承すれば(けいしょうすれば)
tara継承したら(けいしょうしたら)
Volitional継承しよう(けいしょうしよう)
polite (mashou)継承しましょう(けいしょうしましょう)
Imperative継承しろ(けいしょうしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym相続そうぞくFormalFormal; specifically inheriting assets, rights and duties upon death, as in 「遺産相続」. 「継承」 usually covers traditions, systems, or the throne.
  • Synonym承継しょうけいWrittenWritten/formal prose, mostly legal: taking over rights and duties. 「継承」 is more common for cultural traditions.
  • Synonym受け継ぐうけつぐNeutralA verb: to take over a predecessor's work or an inheritance; more colloquial. 「継承」 is the formal noun.
  • Synonym譲り受けるゆずりうけるNeutralA verb: to receive goods or rights handed over by another person, or to buy them. 「継承」 leans toward succession and legacy.
  • Related世襲せしゅうFormalFormal; hereditary transmission of a family's status or occupation, e.g. 「世襲議員」. 「継承」 is not limited to bloodline.
  • RelatedつぐNeutralA verb: to succeed to the family business or a post; also to patch clothes. 「継承」 is a noun and leans formal.
  • Related相伝そうでんWrittenWritten/formal prose: passing things down through the generations, as in 「一子相伝」. 「継承」 is the more general word.
  • Related相承そうしょうWrittenWritten/formal prose: transmission of learning or arts between master and pupil or parent and child. 「継承」 covers a wider range.
  • Related継受けいじゅFormalFormal and mostly legal: taking over or receiving rights, a business, etc. In ordinary written prose 「継承」 is more common.
  • Antonym断絶だんぜつWrittenWritten/formal prose: a line or continuity breaking off or dying out — the opposite of 「継承」.
  • Antonym放棄ほうきWrittenWritten/formal prose: giving up or renouncing a right, as in 「相続放棄」 — the opposite of 「継承」's taking up.

Use 「継承」 (fairly formal) for inheriting traditions, systems or the throne. For inheriting an estate after death use 「相続」; for hereditary family transmission use 「世襲」; for everyday taking over use 「受け継ぐ」 or 「継ぐ」. The opposites are 「断絶」 and 「放棄」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 制度せいどや手法しゅほうをうけつぐこと。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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