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承上启下

承上啟下
chéngshàngqǐxià
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to link what comes before with what follows (idiom)
  2. 2 to serve as a transition; to bridge
  3. 3 connecting the preceding and the following

Examples

这一段起到承上启下的作用。
Zhè yī duàn qǐdào chéngshàngqǐxià de zuòyòng.
This paragraph serves as a transition, linking what came before to what follows.
他在团队中扮演承上启下的角色。
Tā zài tuánduì zhōng bànyǎn chéngshàngqǐxià de juésè.
He plays a bridging role in the team, connecting senior and junior members.
这一代人承上启下，非常关键。
Zhè yī dài rén chéngshàngqǐxià, fēicháng guānjiàn.
This generation bridges past and future — it is critically important.

Tips

history
From Song-dynasty poet Zhang Yan's 《词源·制曲》, discussing ci-poem composition: 过片不要断了曲意，须要承上启下 — the transition between stanzas must not break the meaning; it must connect what came before with what follows. The phrase escaped poetry theory to describe any transitional role.
usage
Most often used for: (1) a transitional paragraph or section in writing, (2) a middle generation or middle manager linking seniors and juniors, (3) a pivotal historical moment. Pairs naturally with 作用 or 角色.

Stroke Order

承 chéng
上 shàng
启 qǐ
下 xià