Origin

This character combines a mouth (口) with a line (一) to express the idea of succession. The mouth represents speech or continuity, while the line suggests a thread or connection passing through. Together, they picture the unbroken transmission of words, authority, or position from one person to the next—the core meaning of an heir taking over from their predecessor. The character essentially shows how leadership or family lineage continues from one generation to the next, much like a spoken word or command being passed along a line.