傳

Definitions

傳

1. to transfer; to deliver; to transmit; to pass on

   傳球／传球  ―  chuánqiú  ―  to pass the ball

2. to teach; to impart
3. to pass down; to hand down
4. to abdicate; to resign sovereign authority
5. to express; to convey
6. to summon; to call
7. to spread; to circulate; to disseminate

   宣傳／宣传  ―  xuānchuán  ―  to promote; to publicise

8. (physics) to conduct (electricity or heat)
9. (Hokkien) to pass on to the next generation; to transmit to the offspring
10. (Mainland China Hokkien) to summon with a subpoena
11. (Mainland China Hokkien) to give birth; to procreate; to have children
12. (Quanzhou and Xiamen Hokkien) to prepare; to get ready; to make ready
13. (Quanzhou and Xiamen Hokkien) to set up a trap to make a fool of someone
14. (Quanzhou Hokkien) to give
15. (Quanzhou Hokkien) to allow; to let; to permit
16. (Quanzhou Hokkien) by

Compounds

Descendants

Others:

• → Vietnamese: chuyền

Definitions

傳

1. (historical) relay station for transmitting documents
2. (historical) stagecoach; post-chaise
3. (historical, literature) a category of historical literary works
   1. historical narrative; record; chronicle; historical documents

      • 傳曰：「一人有慶，兆民賴之。」此之謂也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        传曰：「一人有庆，兆民赖之。」此之谓也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: Xunzi, c. 3^rd century BCE

        Zhuàn yuē: “Yīrén yǒu qìng, zhào mín lài zhī.” Cǐ zhī wèi yě. [Pinyin]

        In the histories (i.e., the Book of Documents) it is written: "I, the One, enjoy felicity; the people will look to me as their sure dependence," which refers to this.

   2. commentary; annotation

      《公羊傳》／《公羊传》  ―  “gōngyángzhuàn”  ―  Commentaries of Gongyang

      • 《易》大傳：「天下一致而百慮，同歸而殊塗。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        《易》大传：「天下一致而百虑，同归而殊涂。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

        “Yì” dàzhuàn: “Tiānxià yīzhì ér bǎilǜ, tóngguī ér shūtú.” [Pinyin]

        The Grand Commentary to the Yi (i.e., the Xi Ci) has it, that "All under heaven, the one answer is found by myriad contemplations, the one destiny is reached by diverse routes."

   3. paracanonical work (any work that complements a canon or a canonical body of texts but not considered canonical by itself, often including the above)

      名不見經傳／名不见经传  ―  míngbùjiànjīngzhuàn  ―  to be a nobody (literally, "the name does not appear in canons or para-canons")

      • 傳曰：「雩而雨者，何也？曰：無何也，猶不雩而雨也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        传曰：「雩而雨者，何也？曰：无何也，犹不雩而雨也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: c. 2nd century BCE, Han Shi Wai Zhuan (《韓詩外傳》)

        Zhuàn yuē: “Yú ér yǔ zhě, hé yě? Yuē: wúhé yě, yóu bùyú ér yǔ yě.” [Pinyin]

        Beside the canons (i.e. in Xunzi), the following is written: "How is it that rain comes after a sacrifice of rain-dance? Answer: There is no 'how'. It is the same as any occurrence of rain without the rain-dance."

      • 太史公曰：傳曰：「其身正，不令而行；其身不正，雖令不從，」其李將軍之謂也？ [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        太史公曰：传曰：「其身正，不令而行；其身不正，虽令不从，」其李将军之谓也？ [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

        Tàishǐgōng yuē: zhuàn yuē: “Qí shēn zhèng, bù lìng ér xíng; qí shēn bùzhèng, suī lìng bù cóng,” qí Lǐ jiāngjūn zhī wèi yě? [Pinyin]

        The Annalist wrote: In the para-canons (i.e. the Analects, itself not considered canonical at the time) it is written: "When one's own personal conduct is correct, his government is effective without the issuing of orders. If not correct, he may issue orders, but they will not be followed." Is this not a proper description of General Li?

4. (literature) biography; life story

   自傳／自传  ―  zìzhuàn  ―  autobiography

   列傳／列传  ―  lièzhuàn  ―  biographical historiography

5. (historical, literature) novel or story written in the historical style

   《水滸傳》／《水浒传》  ―  “shuǐhǔzhuàn”  ―  Water Margin (novel)

6. to write a biography

Compounds

Descendants

Others:

• → Vietnamese: chuyện (𡀯)