1.
inheritance; estate; bequest
Property, money, or assets left behind by a deceased person to be distributed to heirs.
遺産を相続する。
To inherit an estate.
父の遺産を兄弟で分けた。
We divided our father's inheritance among the siblings.
遺産相続をめぐって親族間で争いが起きることも少なくない。
It is not uncommon for disputes to arise among relatives over inheritance.
2.
heritage; legacy
Something of cultural, historical, or intellectual value passed down from previous generations.
世界遺産に登録された。
It was registered as a World Heritage site.
この建物は貴重な文化遺産だ。
This building is a valuable cultural heritage.
先人たちが残した知的遺産を次の世代に伝えていくことが大切だ。
It is important to pass on the intellectual legacy left by our predecessors to the next generation.
遺産 covers both the legal concept of inheritance and the broader concept of cultural heritage.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 遺産相続 (inheritance)
- 世界遺産 (World Heritage)
- 文化遺産 (cultural heritage)
- 自然遺産 (natural heritage)
- 負の遺産 (negative legacy)
The compound 世界遺産 (World Heritage) is extremely common in Japanese media and travel contexts. Japan has numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites. 負の遺産 (negative legacy) is used to describe harmful things inherited from the past, such as environmental damage or debt.