遺伝

• Reading: いでん
• Romaji: iden
• Kanji breakdown: 遺 (i) — bequeath, leave behind; 伝 (den) — transmit, convey
• Pronunciation: /i.deɴ/

Meaning

Heredity; genetic inheritance. The passing of traits from parents to offspring.

A noun and suru-verb used in both scientific and everyday contexts. As a verb (遺伝する), it means 'to be inherited genetically.' Common collocations include 遺伝的 (identeki, genetic/hereditary) and 遺伝病 (idenbyou, hereditary disease). Often appears in discussions about health, appearance, and biology.

Examples

1. 髪の色は母から遺伝したようだ。 It seems my hair color was inherited from my mother.
2. 遺伝の仕組みを授業で習った。 We learned about the mechanisms of heredity in class.
3. この病気は遺伝する可能性がある。 There is a possibility that this disease is hereditary.

Usage Guide

Context: biology, medicine, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 遺 (i, leave behind/bequeath) + 伝 (den, transmit/convey). Literally 'transmitting what is left behind' — traits passed down through generations.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal