noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
succession; inheritance (of property, rights, or status)
Legal and formal term for inheriting assets, debts, or a position. Often used in contexts such as 相続税 (inheritance tax) and 相続人 (heir).
父の死後、長男が家を相続した。
After his father's death, the eldest son inherited the house.
The deadline for filing inheritance tax is within 10 months.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
Broader use for receiving something from a predecessor, such as traditions, culture, or problems. Less formal than sense 1, but still carries a weighty nuance.
先代の技術を相続して、新しい製品を開発した。
We inherited the previous generation's techniques and developed a new product.
彼は父親の借金を相続することになった。
He ended up inheriting his father's debts.