chuánshòu: 传授 - To Pass On, To Impart, To Teach

• Keywords: chuanshou, 传授, how to say teach in Chinese, impart knowledge Chinese, pass on skills, master and apprentice in Chinese, shifu teach disciple, 师父, 徒弟, Chinese verb for teaching, formal teaching, 传授 vs 教
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 传授 (chuánshòu), a formal Chinese verb that goes beyond simple teaching. Learn how it's used to describe the act of a master imparting profound skills, secret knowledge, or a lifelong craft to a disciple. This guide covers its cultural significance in master-apprentice relationships, modern usage, and key differences from the general word for “teach,” 教 (jiāo).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chuán shòu
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To impart, pass on, or teach valuable knowledge, skills, or a craft, typically in a formal or traditional context.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 传授 (chuánshòu) not as classroom teaching, but as a master passing down a legacy. It’s the verb you’d use for a kung fu master showing a disciple a secret move, a renowned chef sharing a family recipe, or a seasoned artisan teaching their craft. It implies a deep, serious, and respectful transfer of wisdom that is meant to be preserved.

• 传 (chuán): This character means “to pass on,” “to transmit,” or “to spread.” It's composed of the person radical (亻) and a character (专) that implies specialization. Think of it as a specialized skill being passed from person to person. It's the same “chuán” as in `传统 (chuántǒng)`, meaning tradition.
• 授 (shòu): This character means “to give to,” “to award,” or “to teach.” The hand radical (扌) on the left clearly indicates an action of giving or presenting something. It's the same “shòu” in `教授 (jiàoshòu)`, meaning professor.
• Combined Meaning: Together, 传授 (chuánshòu) literally means “to pass on and give.” This combination creates a powerful verb that signifies the formal and intentional act of transmitting something valuable (a skill, a technique, a body of knowledge) to another person for them to carry forward.

The word 传授 (chuánshòu) is deeply tied to the traditional Chinese concept of the master-apprentice relationship (师徒关系, shītú guānxì). In many fields—from martial arts (武术) and traditional medicine (中医) to calligraphy (书法) and cooking (烹饪)—knowledge was not just learned from a book, but imparted directly from a master (师父, shīfu) to an apprentice (徒弟, túdì). This isn't like the Western concept of “on-the-job training.” The act of 传授 establishes a profound, lifelong bond built on respect, loyalty, and responsibility. The master has a duty to pass on their knowledge faithfully, and the apprentice has a duty to learn diligently, practice hard, and uphold the honor of their teacher and their lineage. While “teaching” in the West can be a transactional exchange of information, 传授 (chuánshòu) implies the transfer of a legacy. It's about entrusting someone with a secret, a tradition, or an art form, with the expectation that they will preserve it and, one day, pass it on themselves. This reflects the high value placed on heritage, lineage, and the continuation of knowledge through generations.

While its roots are traditional, 传授 (chuánshòu) is still actively used today, almost always in formal or serious contexts.

• Professional and Academic Settings: A senior surgeon might 传授 a specific surgical technique to a resident. A famous professor might 传授 their unique research methodologies to a PhD student. A senior executive might 传授 their business negotiation strategies to a mentee.
• Passing on Experience: It is very common to use the phrase 传授经验 (chuánshòu jīngyàn), which means “to pass on one's experience.” A parent might do this for a child, or a veteran employee for a new hire. Even in this context, it carries more weight than just “giving advice.”
• Connotation: The term is highly respectful and positive. It elevates both the knowledge being shared and the people involved in the exchange. You would not use it for simple, everyday instructions. Its use implies that the skill or knowledge is valuable, complex, and not easily acquired.

• Example 1:
  • 这位老师傅决定把他的独门手艺传授给最勤奋的徒弟。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi lǎo shīfù juédìng bǎ tā de dúmén shǒuyì chuánshòu gěi zuì qínfèn de túdì.
  • English: This old master decided to pass on his exclusive craft to his most diligent apprentice.
  • Analysis: This is the classic usage of 传授, highlighting the master-apprentice relationship and the transfer of a unique skill (独门手艺, dúmén shǒuyì).
• Example 2:
  • 在研讨会上，张教授向我们传授了做学术研究的宝贵经验。
  • Pinyin: Zài yántǎohuì shàng, Zhāng jiàoshòu xiàng wǒmen chuánshòu le zuò xuéshù yánjiū de bǎoguì jīngyàn.
  • English: At the seminar, Professor Zhang imparted to us his valuable experience in conducting academic research.
  • Analysis: This shows 传授 used in a modern, academic context. The object being passed on is “valuable experience” (宝贵经验, bǎoguì jīngyàn).
• Example 3:
  • 奶奶把祖传的刺绣技巧传授给了我妈妈。
  • Pinyin: Nǎinai bǎ zǔchuán de cìxiù jìqiǎo chuánshòu gěi le wǒ māma.
  • English: My grandmother passed down the ancestral embroidery skills to my mother.
  • Analysis: Here, 传授 emphasizes the passing of a family tradition (祖传, zǔchuán) through generations.
• Example 4:
  • 公司请来了一位专家，向我们传授先进的管理方法。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī qǐnglái le yí wèi zhuānjiā, xiàng wǒmen chuánshòu xiānjìn de guǎnlǐ fāngfǎ.
  • English: The company invited an expert to teach us advanced management methods.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates its use in a professional, business environment for transferring specialized knowledge.
• Example 5:
  • 他毫无保留地将自己的知识传授给了学生们。
  • Pinyin: Tā háo wú bǎoliú de jiāng zìjǐ de zhīshi chuánshòu gěi le xuéshēngmen.
  • English: He unreservedly imparted his knowledge to the students.
  • Analysis: The adverb “unreservedly” (毫无保留地, háo wú bǎoliú de) often accompanies 传授 to emphasize the generosity of the teacher.
• Example 6:
  • 这位厨师不愿意传授他的秘方。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi chúshī bú yuànyì chuánshòu tā de mìfāng.
  • English: This chef is unwilling to pass on his secret recipe.
  • Analysis: A good example of what is often 传授ed: a secret recipe (秘方, mìfāng). The negative form shows the refusal to perform this special act.
• Example 7:
  • 父亲常常给我传授一些人生的道理。
  • Pinyin: Fùqīn chángcháng gěi wǒ chuánshòu yìxiē rénshēng de dàolǐ.
  • English: My father often imparts some of life's principles to me.
  • Analysis: 传授 can be used for abstract concepts like life philosophy, giving the advice a sense of weight and wisdom.
• Example 8:
  • 我们需要找到一种方法，把这种濒危的传统工艺传授下去。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào zhǎodào yì zhǒng fāngfǎ, bǎ zhè zhǒng bīnwēi de chuántǒng gōngyì chuánshòu xiàqù.
  • English: We need to find a way to pass on this endangered traditional craft.
  • Analysis: The directional complement “下去 (xiàqù)” emphasizes continuation into the future, a core part of the meaning of 传授.
• Example 9:
  • 老一辈的革命精神需要被传授给年轻一代。
  • Pinyin: Lǎo yí bèi de gémìng jīngshén xūyào bèi chuánshòu gěi niánqīng yí dài.
  • English: The revolutionary spirit of the older generation needs to be passed on to the younger generation.
  • Analysis: This is a highly formal and abstract usage, where an entire “spirit” (精神, jīngshén) is the object of transmission.
• Example 10:
  • 一位好的教练不仅传授技术，更重要的是教会队员如何团队合作。
  • Pinyin: Yí wèi hǎo de jiàoliàn bùjǐn chuánshòu jìshù, gèng zhòngyào de shì jiāohuì duìyuán rúhé tuánduì hézuò.
  • English: A good coach not only imparts techniques, but more importantly, teaches the team members how to cooperate as a team.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts 传授 (for the specialized techniques) with the more general verb `教 (jiāo)` (for teaching teamwork), highlighting the nuance.

The most common mistake for learners is using 传授 (chuánshòu) where the simple verb 教 (jiāo) would suffice.

• 教 (jiāo): This is the general, all-purpose verb for “to teach.” Use it for school subjects, simple instructions, and everyday skills.
  • `他教我英语。` (Tā jiāo wǒ Yīngyǔ.) - He teaches me English.
  • `你能教我怎么用这个软件吗？` (Nǐ néng jiāo wǒ zěnme yòng zhège ruǎnjiàn ma?) - Can you teach me how to use this software?
• 传授 (chuánshòu): Use this only for deep, valuable, complex, or traditional skills, knowledge, or experience. Using it for simple things sounds overly dramatic and incorrect.

Incorrect Usage:

• `❌ 他传授我怎么开车。` (Tā chuánshòu wǒ zěnme kāichē.)
• Reason: Driving is a standard skill, not a secret art form passed down from a master. It lacks the necessary weight and formality for 传授.
• Correct Usage:
• `✅ 他教我怎么开车。` (Tā jiāo wǒ zěnme kāichē.) - He taught me how to drive.

Think of it this way: You 教 someone the alphabet, but a master calligrapher 传授 the art of writing characters.

• 教 (jiāo) - The general verb “to teach.” 传授 is a much more formal and specific type of teaching.
• 师父 (shīfu) - The traditional title for a master or teacher who 传授s their skills.
• 徒弟 (túdì) - The apprentice or disciple who receives the knowledge from a 师父.
• 教授 (jiàoshòu) - Can be a noun (“professor”) or a verb (“to instruct”). The verb form is very formal, similar to 传授, but used more exclusively in academic or technical instruction.
• 传承 (chuánchéng) - To inherit and pass on (a legacy). This noun/verb focuses on the entire process of inheritance and continuation, while 传授 is the specific action of the master teaching.
• 经验 (jīngyàn) - Experience. One of the most common things to be 传授ed.
• 技术 (jìshù) - Technique or skill. Another common object for the verb 传授.
• 秘诀 (mìjué) - A secret tip or a “trick of the trade.” The quintessential knowledge that a master would 传授.
• 手艺 (shǒuyì) - Craftsmanship or skill, particularly a manual one. Masters 传授 their 手艺.