語り継ぐ

• Reading: かたりつぐ
• Romaji: kataritsugu
• Kanji breakdown: 語 (go/kata) — tell, narrate, language; 継 (kei/tsu) — succeed, continue, carry on
• Pronunciation: /ka.ta.ɾi.tsɯ.ɡɯ/

Meaning

To pass down (a story or tradition) through telling; to hand down by word of mouth across generations.

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb from 語る (to tell, to narrate) and 継ぐ (to succeed, to carry on). Conjugates as 語り継が-ない, 語り継ぎ-ます. Carries strong connotations of cultural heritage, oral tradition, and the responsibility of preserving memory. Often used in contexts of historical events, folklore, and family stories.

Examples

1. 戦争の記憶を語り継ぐことが次世代への最大の贈り物だと彼は信じている。 He believes that passing down memories of the war is the greatest gift to the next generation.
2. 地域の伝説は村人たちによって何百年もの間語り継がれてきた。 The local legend has been handed down by the villagers for hundreds of years.
3. 被災地の体験を語り継ぐための証言集が全国の学校に配布された。 A collection of testimonies to pass down the experiences of disaster-affected areas was distributed to schools nationwide.

Usage Guide

Context: history, culture, oral tradition, journalism

Tone: solemn

Origin & History

Compound of 語る (kataru, to narrate, to tell) and 継ぐ (tsugu, to succeed, to carry on). Together they convey the act of preserving something precious by passing it forward through the act of telling.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated