跡 継(あとつ)ぎ

あとつぎ

noun

successor; heir

1. successor; heir

A person who takes over a position, role, business, or family line. Used for both familial inheritance and organizational succession.

跡継(あとつ)ぎがいない。

There is no successor.

長男(ちょうなん)が店(みせ)の跡継(あとつ)ぎになった。

The eldest son became the successor to the shop.

社長(しゃちょう)の跡継(あとつ)ぎを早(はや)めに決(き)めておかなければならない。

We need to decide on a successor for the president early.

Refers to a person who inherits or takes over a role, position, business, or family line. The nuance emphasizes continuity — the successor carries on what came before.

Common collocations

跡継(あとつ)ぎがいない (there is no heir)
跡継(あとつ)ぎを探(さが)す (look for a successor)
跡継(あとつ)ぎを育(そだ)てる (groom a successor)
跡継(あとつ)ぎ問題(もんだい) (succession problem)

Often used when discussing family businesses, traditional crafts, or farms facing a shortage of young people willing to carry on. The spelling 後継(こうけい)ぎ is a more formal synonym used in corporate and political contexts.

Related Words

Related: 後継者(こうけいしゃ) (successor (formal))

Compare: 嫡男(ちゃくなん) (legitimate son)

Related: 二代目(にだいめ) (second generation)

Compare: 後継(こうけい) (succession)

general

Added 2026.2.28 19:54 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

14000/14299_atotsugi