传统
tradition; traditional
HSK level
- Pinyin
- chuántǒng
- Part of speech
- noun
- Level
- HSK 5
- Strokes
- 15
- Register
- neutral
- Measure word
- 个 / 种
Stroke order for 传统
传统 is written with 15 strokes (传: 6, 统: 9). The animation replays automatically.
What does 传统 mean?
传统 (chuántǒng) means "tradition" as a noun and "traditional" as an attributive adjective — customs, values, and practices passed down across generations.
As a noun: 尊重传统 ("respect tradition"), 打破传统 ("break with tradition"). As an adjective it modifies nouns directly, no 的 needed: 传统文化 (traditional culture), 传统节日 (traditional festivals), 传统医学 (traditional medicine). It often carries a positive weight of continuity and heritage, and pairs naturally against 现代 (modern) and 创新 (innovation).
The characters are 传 (to pass down / transmit) and 统 (to unite / a continuous line), literally "what is transmitted in an unbroken line." Distinguish it from 传说 (chuánshuō), a legend or folk tale, which shares the 传 character but means a story handed down, not a living custom.
Note: Neutral; frequent in writing about culture, festivals, and history.
Character by character
Memory hook: 传 (passed down) through an unbroken 统 (line) = tradition.
Example sentences
春节是中国最重要的传统节日。
Chūnjié shì Zhōngguó zuì zhòngyào de chuántǒng jiérì.
Spring Festival is China's most important traditional holiday.
neutral
这个家庭有互相帮助的传统。
Zhège jiātíng yǒu hùxiāng bāngzhù de chuántǒng.
This family has a tradition of helping one another.
neutral
年轻人开始重新关注传统文化。
Niánqīngrén kāishǐ chóngxīn guānzhù chuántǒng wénhuà.
Young people are starting to pay attention to traditional culture again.
written
有时候我们需要打破传统。
Yǒu shíhou wǒmen xūyào dǎpò chuántǒng.
Sometimes we need to break with tradition.
spoken
Common phrases with 传统
Synonyms
习俗 is a specific custom or folk practice (春节习俗, Spring Festival customs). 传统 is broader — the whole body of inherited values and ways, not just one practice.
Don't confuse 传统 with
传说 is a legend or folk tale handed down (民间传说). 传统 is a living tradition or custom. Both share 传 ("pass down"), but one is a story, the other a practice.
统一 means to unify or unified (统一意见). It reuses 统 but means bringing things together, unrelated to inherited custom.
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