hereditarily

IPA/hɪˈred.ɪ.tər.əl.i/
IPA/həˌred.əˈter.əl.i/

hereditarily — adverb

1. in a way that is passed from parents to their children — either through genes (f

1.副詞C1
釋義

in a way that is passed from parents to their children — either through genes (for physical traits, abilities, or medical conditions) or as a legal right (for social positions, titles, or property).

例句

Dr. Park said Mei's eye problem was not passed hereditarily, so her baby was safe.

not + passed hereditarily — negation of genetic transmission

In Japan, the royal throne has been passed hereditarily for many centuries.

passed hereditarily — collocation for titles/positions

同義詞
  • genetically

    narrower — only covers biological/medical inheritance, not social positions or titles

  • by inheritance

    more general and less formal; works for both biology and property

  • by birthright

    limited to social positions, titles, or privileges that belong to someone from birth

反義詞
  • acquired

    opposite in medical contexts — an acquired disease or trait is not inherited from parents but develops during life

  • earned

    opposite in social contexts — a position achieved by personal effort rather than inherited by right of birth

文法句型

hereditarily + [past participle] (e.g. transmitted, linked, determined)

hereditarily + [adjective] (e.g. predisposed, gifted)

not + passed hereditarily

用法筆記

Cannot be used as an adjective — 'The disease is hereditarily' is incorrect. You need a verb or adjective after it, e.g. 'The disease is hereditarily transmitted.' Most common in formal, medical, or legal writing.

常見錯誤

❌The condition is hereditarily.
✅The condition is hereditarily transmitted.
💡'Hereditarily' is an adverb and must modify a verb or adjective, not stand alone as a complement.
❌He hereditarily received the house from his father.
✅He received the house through hereditary succession.
💡When referring to the act of receiving (not how something is passed down), use a different construction.