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跡継ぎ (あとつぎ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

跡あと継つぎ

あ

と

つ

ぎ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

heir; inheritor

Refers to a person who inherits a family business, estate, or tradition. Often used in contexts of family succession.

彼かれは老舗旅館しにせりょかんの跡あと継つぎとして育そだてられた。
He was raised as the heir to the long-established inn.
社しゃ長ちょうは息子むすこを跡

あと

継つ

ぎ

に

指し

名めい

し

た

。

The president named his son as his successor.

2

noun

Broader than 'heir'; can refer to anyone who takes over a role, position, or work, not necessarily family-related.

彼かれは引いん退たいする教きょう授じゅの跡あと継つぎとして迎むかえられた。
He was brought in as the successor to the retiring professor.

Written forms

跡あと継つぎUsage63%
Standard kanji spelling; 跡 means 'trace' or 'remains', 継ぎ means 'succession'.
後あと継つぎUsage24%
Variant using 後 (after, later); less common but still seen.
あとつぎUsage11%
跡あと継つぎUsage1%
Abbreviated form without okurigana; mainly in older or compact writing.
アトツギUsage1%
後あと継つぎ
Abbreviated variant using 後; rare and may be confused with 後継 (こうけい).

Kanji

跡tracks, mark, print
継inherit, succeed, continue
後behind, back, later

Similar words

後こう継けい者しゃ
More formal and abstract; often used in business or political contexts. 跡継ぎ implies a more personal, often familial, succession.
相そう続ぞく人にん
Legal term for 'heir' in the context of inheritance law. 跡継ぎ is more about taking over a role or business.

Etymology

Compound of 跡 (ato, 'trace, remains') and 継ぎ (tsugi, 'succession'), from the verb 継ぐ (tsugu, 'to succeed'). Literally 'succession of the traces'.