继承 (jìchéng) is a verb meaning 'to inherit' — most commonly referring to receiving property, titles, rights, or responsibilities from someone who has passed away or stepped aside. The first character 继 (jì) means 'to continue' or 'to follow after', while 承 (chéng) means 'to receive', 'to accept', or 'to undertake'. Together, they convey the idea of formally taking on what was held or practiced by a predecessor — whether tangible assets like land or money, or intangible legacies like family traditions, cultural practices, or professional expertise.

This word is formal and often appears in legal, familial, historical, or institutional contexts. It implies continuity, legitimacy, and responsibility — not just passive receipt but active continuation. While it can refer to biological inheritance (e.g., inheriting wealth), it’s also widely used metaphorically: inheriting values, a leadership role, or even a philosophical school of thought. It is rarely used for everyday objects or casual situations — for those, words like 接收 (jiēshōu, 'to receive') or 得到 (dédào, 'to get') are more appropriate.