代々(だいだい)

代々(だいだい) emphasizes continuity through family lineage over multiple generations. It implies that something has been maintained, inherited, or repeated across successive generations of a family or organization.

Usage

Used as an adverb modifying verbs (代々(だいだい)伝(つた)わる) or as a noun modifier (代々(だいだい)の当主(とうしゅ)). Common in contexts involving family businesses, traditions, land ownership, and hereditary roles.

Common patterns

• 代々(だいだい)続(つづ)く: to continue for generations
• 代々(だいだい)受(う)け継(つ)ぐ: to inherit through generations
• 代々(だいだい)伝(つた)わる: to be handed down for generations
• 代々(だいだい)の家業(かぎょう): family business passed down for generations

Alternate reading

Can also be read よよ in formal or literary contexts with the same meaning.

Related words

• 世代(せだい): generation (as a noun)
• 先祖(せんぞ)代々(だいだい): from one's ancestors onward