継つぐ

つ

ぐ

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

継ぐ · godan verb (-gu)

Meanings

godan verb (-gu), transitive verb

Used for succeeding to a position, role, family business, or inheriting traits and responsibilities. Common with nouns like 跡, 家業, 王位.

godan verb (-gu), transitive verb

Only when written 継ぐ

Specifically for patching clothes or fabric; not used for general mechanical repair. Often appears as 継ぎを当てる or 布を継ぐ.

godan verb (-gu), transitive verb

add; replenish; follow up with

Only when written 継ぐ

Used for adding more of something to keep it going: charcoal to a fire, fuel, drinks, or follow-up remarks. Common in set phrases like 炭を継ぐ, 言葉を継ぐ.

godan verb (-gu), transitive verb

usually written using kana alonego (game)

Only when written 継ぐ

Go terminology: to connect one's stones. Usually written in kana as ツぐ. Cross-referenced with ツギ.

〈人ひと〉から〈物もの〉を継つぐto inherit/take over something from someone
祖そ父ふから小ちいさな店みせを継ついだ。
I took over a small shop from my grandfather.
王おう位いを継つぐto succeed to the throne
王おう子じは父ちちの死し後ご、王おう位いを継ついだ。
The prince succeeded to the throne after his father's death.
〈物もの〉のひざを継つぐto patch the knee of a garment
母はははズボンのひざを継ついでくれた。
My mother patched the knee of my trousers for me.
炭すみを継つぐto add more charcoal to keep a fire going
火ひが消きえないように炭すみを継ついだ。
I added more charcoal so the fire wouldn't go out.

受うけ継つぐN2sense 1
受け継ぐ stresses the act of receiving something passed down, while 継ぐ is the plainer, more general verb for succeeding to a role or tradition.
引ひき継つぐN1sense 1
引き継ぐ is used mainly for taking over duties or work from a predecessor, whereas 継ぐ covers a wider range including family lines and traditions.
相そう続ぞくN3sense 1
相続する is the formal, legal term for inheriting property or an estate, while 継ぐ is the everyday word that also covers non-legal succession like a role or trade.
繕つくろうN1sense 2
繕う is the general word for mending or fixing up clothing, while 継ぐ specifically means to patch by joining a piece of fabric.

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足たすN4sense 3
足す is a general word for adding more of something, while 継ぐ is used specifically for replenishing fuel or picking up a conversation to keep it going.
襲おそうN2
継ぐ is the neutral, everyday verb for inheriting or succeeding to a role, while 襲う in this sense adds a nuance of formally or forcefully stepping into someone's position.
踏ふむN4
継ぐ is the everyday word for succeeding to a position or throne, while 踏む in this sense is a rare, formal usage found mainly in historical writing.

次つぐN2
次ぐ (rank next, follow in order) and 継ぐ (succeed, inherit, e.g. a family business) share the same reading つぐ but have completely different meanings.
接つぐN1
接ぐ means to physically join or graft (e.g. bones, branches), while 継ぐ (same reading) means to inherit or succeed to something like a family business or title.

引ひき継つぐN1
take over; inherit; carry on · hand over; pass on
引ひき継つぎN1
handover; taking over; transfer
継つぎ
patch; patching · join; joining · successor; heir · connection (in go)
受うけ継つぐN2
inherit; succeed; take over
中なか継つぎN1
joining; intermediation; acting as intermediary · relaying; taking over; handing off · middle relief pitcher; middle reliever · pole with a middle joint · tea caddy with matching lid

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継つぐUsage70%
Standard kanji for most senses: succeeding, inheriting, patching, adding, and connecting.
つぐUsage23%
ツグUsage5%
嗣つぐUsage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji specifically for succeeding to a family line or position.
ツぐUsage<1%
search-only kana form
Katakana spelling used in go terminology; it is search-only.
続つぐ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare variant; modern Japanese prefers 継ぐ or 続く.
襲つぐ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji for inheriting a title or position.

The historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji 継 is conventionally associated with connecting, succeeding, and patching.