承上启下

承上啟下

chéngshàng-qǐxià

idiom

Meanings

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

Characters

to receive; inherit

above; previous

to open; initiate

Examples

HSK 4

这一段起到承上启下的作用。

Zhè yī duàn qǐdào chéngshàng-qǐxià de zuòyòng.

This paragraph serves as a transition, linking what came before to what follows.

HSK 5

这一代人承上启下，非常关键。

Zhè yídài rén chéngshàng-qǐxià, fēicháng guānjiàn.

This generation bridges past and future, and is critically important.

HSK 6

他在团队中扮演承上启下的角色。

Tā zài tuánduì zhōng bànyǎn chéngshàng-qǐxià de juésè.

He plays a bridging role in the team, connecting senior and junior members.

Tips

history

From Song-dynasty critic Zhang Yan's 《词源·制曲》, discussing ci-poem composition: 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