kế tự
Definition
- Noun:
- Heir; successor (in a lineage): A person who continues the family line, traditionally the son or designated descendant who inherits the responsibility for ancestral rites and the continuation of the family name.
- The act of succession: The process or custom of appointing or recognizing an heir to maintain the family lineage.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Gia đình quý tộc ấy đã tìm được người kế tự. (That noble family has found an heir.)
- Tục lệ kế tự rất quan trọng trong xã hội xưa. (The custom of succession was very important in ancient society.)
- Ông ấy lo lắng vì chưa có con trai để kế tự. (He is worried because he has no son to succeed him.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is primarily used in historical, literary, or formal contexts related to traditional Confucian family structures and inheritance of ritual duties, not material wealth alone.
Variants and Related Words
- Thừa tự: A synonym meaning to inherit and continue the ancestral line.
- Nối dõi: A more common verb phrase meaning "to continue the lineage."
- Anh ấy là người nối dõi tông đường. (He is the one who continues the family line.)
Synonyms
- Successor: A person who follows and takes over a position.
- Heir: A person legally entitled to continue the lineage or inherit property.
- Descendant (designated): A person chosen to carry on the family line.
Related Concepts
- Tông đường: The main family line; the lineage for which a kế tự is sought.
- Hương hỏa: The ancestral worship rites; a key responsibility inherited by the kế tự.