过继

過繼

guòjì

verb #36,119

Meanings

1 to adopt (typically a relative's child)
2 to give a child for adoption to a childless relative

Characters

to pass over, transfer

to continue, inherit

Examples

他从小就被过继给了大伯。

Tā cóng xiǎo jiù bèi guòjì gěi le dàbó.

He was given to his uncle for adoption when he was little.

二叔没有孩子,我父母把我过继给他了。

Èrshū méiyǒu háizi, wǒ fùmǔ bǎ wǒ guòjì gěi tā le.

Second Uncle had no children, so my parents gave me to him to adopt.

Tips

culture

过 ('to pass over') + 继 ('to continue/inherit'). Specifically refers to the traditional Chinese practice of adopting within the extended family — a younger brother's son might be 过继 to an older childless brother to continue the family line.

Stroke Order

过 guò

继 jì