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傳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
傳chuánto pass on; to propagate; to transmit; summonsx, 13 strokes, radical 亻
chuán(chuan2) T2
  1. 1to pass on; to propagate; to transmit; summons
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March 24, 2026

傳chuán(chuan2)

The character 傳 (chuán) means 'to pass on' or 'to transmit.' It is often used in contexts involving communication, such as transmitting information or traditions. The character can also imply the act of passing something from one person to another, like a message or heritage.

Strokes13Radical亻
Cultural Note

The concept of transmission is significant in Chinese culture, especially regarding family traditions and values. The act of passing down stories or family heritage is highly valued, making 傳 an important character in discussions about culture and identity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a messenger carrying a scroll (the radical 傳) across a bridge (the component 传) to pass on important news. This image helps you remember that 'chuán' is about transmitting or passing something along.

Meanings of 傳

chuán(chuan2)
1to pass on; to propagate; to transmit; summons
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 傳 means.

About 傳

傳Simplified
13Strokes
亻Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 傳

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Podcast: 傳

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AI Study Notes for 傳

Quick Contrast

傳 (chuán) vs 送 (sòng) — use 傳 when emphasizing the act of passing on information or traditions, while 送 focuses more on the act of delivering or sending something.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 傳 (chuán) with other similar-sounding words that have different meanings. This character is more commonly used in both formal and informal settings, especially in phrases like '傳說' (chuánshuō, legend) or '傳媒' (chuánméi, media). Pay attention to the tone, as mispronunciation can change meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 傳 is not specified in HSK levels, it relates to other HSK vocabulary that deals with communication and information transfer. Focus on practicing phrases that include this character to enhance your understanding of context and usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 傳 (chuán) with 传 (chuàn), which has a different meaning related to 'to pass through' or 'to go across.' For example, saying '传信息' (chuàn xìnxī) instead of '傳信息' (chuán xìnxī) is incorrect; the correct usage emphasizes transmission.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 傳

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Etymology of 傳

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 专 represents the sound. Simplified form of 傳.

Memory Hint

people

Semantic (meaning)亻
+
Phonetic (sound)專
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

傳 = 亻 + 專. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 傳

IDS Structure⿰亻專
傳Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
專zhuan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 傳?

How to say to pass on; to propagate; to transmit; summons in Chinese

“to pass on; to propagate; to transmit; summons” in Chinese is傳chuán

The character 傳 (chuán) means 'to pass on' or 'to transmit.' It is often used in contexts involving communication, such as transmitting information or traditions. The character can also imply the act of passing something from one person to another, like a message or heritage.

When to use 傳

Be cautious not to confuse 傳 (chuán) with other similar-sounding words that have different meanings. This character is more commonly used in both formal and informal settings, especially in phrases like '傳說' (chuánshuō, legend) or '傳媒' (chuánméi, media). Pay attention to the tone, as mispronunciation can change meaning.

傳 or something close to it

傳 (chuán) vs 送 (sòng) — use 傳 when emphasizing the act of passing on information or traditions, while 送 focuses more on the act of delivering or sending something.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 傳 (chuán) with 传 (chuàn), which has a different meaning related to 'to pass through' or 'to go across.' For example, saying '传信息' (chuàn xìnxī) instead of '傳信息' (chuán xìnxī) is incorrect; the correct usage emphasizes transmission.

Write 傳

傳

Practice writing 傳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 傳

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the idea of transmitting information often emphasizes technology and efficiency, whereas in Chinese culture, it is deeply tied to familial and cultural heritage.

Word Family of 傳

Words Containing This Character20
传统chuántǒngtradition傳統
传chuánto pass on傳
宣传xuānchuánto disseminate宣傳
传说chuánshuōlegend傳說
传奇chuánqílegendary傳奇
传播chuánbōto disseminate傳播
传递chuándìto transmit傳遞
传来chuánláito be heard傳來
遗传yíchuánheredity遺傳
传送to convey傳送
传达chuándáto pass on傳達
传出chuánchūto disseminate傳出
传染chuánrǎnto infect傳染
传输chuánshūto transmit傳輸
传言chuányánrumor傳言
传球pass (in soccer)傳球
传真chuánzhēnfax傳真
传媒chuánméimedia傳媒
传闻chuánwénrumor傳聞
流传liúchuánto spread流傳
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 傳

What does 传统 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 傳

Common phrases include 傳媒 (chuánméi, media) and 傳說 (chuánshuō, legend).

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