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Meaning Index

Chinese characters meaning "to pass on"

Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to pass on", including 传 (chuán / zhuàn), 批 (pī). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…

How to Study This Meaning Group

The English word "to pass on" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 传 (chuán / zhuàn), 批 (pī) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span chuán, zhuàn, pī — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 传 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.

  • 传 chuán / zhuànto pass on; to spread; to transmit; to infect; to transfer; to circulateUseful words: 宣传, 传说
  • 批 pīto ascertain; (measure word for batches; lots); to act on; to criticize; to pass onUseful words: 批准, 批评

Common words for these 2 "to pass on" characters

Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 传 (chuán / zhuàn) — so "to pass on" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.

See each character in a sentence

Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "to pass on".

chuán / zhuàn — to pass on; to spread; to transmit; to infect; to transfer; to circulate

这个故事一直流传到今天。Zhè ge gù shi yì zhí liú chuán dào jīn tiān.This story has been passed down to this day.

Common words: 宣传 (xuān chuán)、传说 (chuán shuō)、传播 (chuán bō)

— to ascertain; (measure word for batches; lots); to act on; to criticize; to pass on

老师正在批改我们的试卷。Lǎo shī zhèng zài pī gǎi wǒ men de shì juàn.The teacher is grading our test papers.

Common words: 批准 (pī zhǔn)、批评 (pī píng)、大批 (dà pī)

All 2 characters

Open 传、批 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.