系譜

• Reading: けいふ
• Romaji: keifu
• Kanji breakdown: 系 (kei) — lineage, system; 譜 (fu) — genealogical record, sequence
• Pronunciation: /keː.ɸɯ/

Meaning

Genealogy; lineage; pedigree; tradition. A line of descent or a tradition passed down through generations.

A noun used both literally for family lineage and figuratively for intellectual or artistic traditions. In literary and historical discourse, 系譜 describes how ideas, styles, or schools of thought are transmitted over time. The figurative use is particularly common in academic and critical writing.

Examples

1. この小説家は自然主義文学の系譜を引く作家として広く知られている。 This novelist is widely known as a writer who carries on the lineage of naturalist literature.
2. 家族の系譜を丁寧に調べると、江戸時代まで遡ることができた。 When I carefully traced my family's genealogy, I was able to go all the way back to the Edo period.
3. 現代ジャズは西洋クラシックとブルースの系譜から生まれたとも言える。 It could be said that modern jazz was born from the lineage of Western classical music and the blues.

Usage Guide

Context: history, literature, genealogy, academic writing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 系 (kei, lineage/system) and 譜 (fu, genealogical record/score). 譜 historically referred to documents recording family lines or musical notation — both convey the idea of an ordered sequence passed down over time.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated