薪火相传
xīn huǒ xiāng chuán
to pass the torch from one generation to the next
Character by character
薪xīn
firewood
firewood
火huǒ
fire
fire
相xiāng
in turn
in turn
传chuán
pass on
pass on
Example
这门手艺在他们家薪火相传，到他已经是第五代了。
The craft has been handed down in their family from generation to generation; he is the fifth to carry it on.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From the image in 《庄子》 of firewood that burns away while the fire passes on to the next log. Said of skills, learning and spirit passed from teacher to pupil or from parents to children; common in speeches: 让…薪火相传.
Learn this in Lesson 74 · HSK 6: 从神舟到嫦娥 (China in space)
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