verb HSK 4
Traditional 傳
to pass · to transmit · to spread · to hand down
Meaning
传 is a versatile verb meaning to pass something from one person or place to another. It can refer to physical transmission (passing an object), information transfer (spreading news), or cultural/historical transmission (handing down traditions). It's commonly used in both everyday speech and formal contexts.
Usage
Native speakers use 传 in various contexts: passing physical objects (传球 pass the ball), spreading information (传消息 pass on a message), transmitting diseases (传染), or preserving traditions (传统). It often appears in compound words and is generally neutral in register.
Examples
- 01请把这份文件传给李经理。.Please pass this document to Manager Li.
- 02这个故事在民间流传了几百年。.This story has been passed down among the people for hundreds of years.
Common collocations
- 传球to pass the ball
- 传话to pass on a message
- 传授to teach, to impart
- 传达to convey, to communicate
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 傳 combines the person radical 亻with 専 (specialized), suggesting the idea of specialized knowledge or items being passed from person to person.