相传…
tradition has it that …; according to legend
Structure
相传 ， 传下来的故事 ／ 主语 相传 谓语
What it means
“Tradition has it that”: opens a story handed down over many generations that nobody can prove, such as a temple’s founding or a festival’s origin.
How it is built
相传，+ old story, or subject + 相传 + predicate: 这座古寺相传建于唐代 (this old temple is said to date from the Tang). 相传这口井是一位将军带着士兵挖的.
When to use it
More literary than 传说. In set phrases it is an ordinary verb: 世代相传 (handed down from generation to generation).
Watch out
Never for recent news: ✗ 相传他下个月结婚。 ✓ 听说他下个月结婚。 For current hearsay use 据说 or 听说.
Examples
相传东汉时，汉明帝梦见了一个全身发光的金人。
Tradition has it that in the Eastern Han, Emperor Ming dreamed of a golden man glowing from head to foot.
相传这口井是一位将军带着士兵挖的。
Legend says this well was dug by a general and his soldiers.
这座古寺相传建于唐代，已经有一千多年的历史了。
This old temple is said to have been built in the Tang and is over a thousand years old.
Learn this in Lesson 90 · HSK 6–7: 佛教来到中国 (How Buddhism became Chinese)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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