バトンタッチ

also: バトン・タッチ

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Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

バトンタッチする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

baton pass; baton handoff

Literal use in relay races or similar sports contexts.

Figurative use for transferring a role, task, or responsibility to a successor.

〈人ひと〉にバトンタッチするto pass the baton to someone (in a relay)
彼かれは最さい終しゅうランナーにバトンタッチした。
He passed the baton to the final runner.
〈人ひと〉に〈物もの〉をバトンタッチするto hand over a role or task to someone
部ぶ長ちょうは新あたらしいマネージャーに仕し事ごとをバトンタッチした。
The department head handed over his job to the new manager.
〈人ひと〉にバトンタッチする（役やく割わり・地ち位い）to pass on a role or position to a successor
社しゃ長ちょうは息子むすこに会かい社しゃをバトンタッチする予よ定ていだ。
The president plans to hand the company over to his son.

引ひき継つぎN1sense 2
引き継ぎ is a formal, business-like word for handing over duties, while バトンタッチ suggests a smoother, more casual relay-style transfer.
継けい承しょう sense 2
継承 is a formal term used for inheriting a position, title, or tradition, whereas バトンタッチ is a more casual, everyday image of passing something on.
交こう代たいN2sense 1
交代 broadly means switching places or taking turns (e.g. shift changes), while バトンタッチ specifically evokes the smooth, sequential handoff image of a relay race.

回かいN4
Used for occurrences or acts; for a baton handoff there isn’t a dedicated conventional counter in this inventory.

Wasei-eigo from English 'baton' and 'touch', modeled on the action in a relay race. The figurative sense developed naturally from the sports meaning.