Readings: ケイ (Onyomi), つ.ぐ, つ.ぎ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: inherit, succeed, patch, join
The kanji 継 combines the radical 糸 (thread) with 季 (season/period, here used for sound and meaning of connection/succession). It metaphorically represents the action of connecting or continuing things, much like threads are joined or seasons follow one another in succession.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 継 has 13 strokes. Start with the left-side radical 糸 (thread), followed by the right-side components.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 糸 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 13 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ケイ (KEI)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- つ.ぐ (tsu.gu)
- つ.ぎ (tsu.gi)
Common Words Using 継
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 継続 | けいぞく | continuation |
| 後継者 | こうけいしゃ | successor |
| 継承 | けいしょう | inheritance, succession |
| 継起 | けいき | recurrence, happening one after another |
| 承継 | しょうけい | succession, inheritance |
| 相継いで | あいついで | one after another |
| 継嗣 | けいし | heir, successor |
| 継母 | けいぼ | stepmother |
| 継父 | けいふ | stepfather |
| 世継ぎ | よつぎ | heir, successor to a family or position |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 継ぐ | つぐ | to succeed, to inherit, to follow |
| 受け継ぐ | うけつぐ | to inherit, to take over |
| 跡継ぎ | あとつぎ | heir, successor |
| 引き継ぐ | ひきつぐ | to take over, to hand over |
| 中継 | ちゅうけい | relay, broadcast |
| 継ぎ目 | つぎめ | joint, seam |
| 継ぎ足す | つぎたす | to add to, to lengthen (by joining) |
| 継ぎ | つぎ | patch, splice, joint |
| 継ぎ接ぎ | つぎはぎ | patching, patchwork |
| 言い継ぐ | いいつぐ | to continue saying, to hand down (a saying) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は父の会社を継いだ。
Kana: かれはちちのかいしゃをついだ。
Romaji: Kare wa chichi no kaisha o tsuida.
English: He inherited his father’s company.
Japanese: この伝統は次の世代に継承されるべきだ。
Kana: このでんとうはつぎのせだいにけいしょうされるべきだ。
Romaji: Kono dentou wa tsugi no sedai ni keishou sareru beki da.
English: This tradition should be handed down to the next generation.
Japanese: 番組は生中継された。
Kana: ばんぐみはなまちゅうけいされた。
Romaji: Bangumi wa nama chuukei sareta.
English: The program was broadcast live.
Japanese: 彼女は彼の後継者として選ばれた。
Kana: かのじょはかれのこうけいしゃとしてえらばれた。
Romaji: Kanojo wa kare no koukeisha to shite erabareta.
English: She was chosen as his successor.
Japanese: 途中で電話が途切れて、またかけ継ぎました。
Kana: とちゅうででんわがとぎれて、またかけつぎました。
Romaji: Tochuu de denwa ga togirete, mata kake tsugimashita.
English: The phone call was cut off midway, so I called back.
Japanese: ズボンの膝に継ぎを当てた。
Kana: ズボンのひざにつぎをあてた。
Romaji: Zubon no hiza ni tsugi o ateta.
English: I put a patch on the knee of my pants.
Japanese: この事業は継続が重要だ。
Kana: このじぎょうはけいぞくがじゅうようだ。
Romaji: Kono jigyou wa keizoku ga juuyou da.
English: Continuation is important for this business.
Japanese: 彼は師匠の芸を立派に継いだ。
Kana: かれはししょうのげいをりっぱについだ。
Romaji: Kare wa shishou no gei o rippa ni tsuida.
English: He admirably succeeded his master’s art.
Japanese: その事件は相継いで発生した。
Kana: そのじけんはあいついで はっせいした。
Romaji: Sono jiken wa aitsuide hassei shita.
English: The incidents occurred one after another.
Japanese: この道は高速道路に継がっている。
Kana: このみちはこうそくどうろにつがっている。
Romaji: Kono michi wa kousoku douro ni tsugatteiru.
English: This road connects to the expressway.
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