<p>「乘」and「承」do indeed sound similar, but an etymological relation (if any) would be <em>before</em> the time of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Chinese" rel="noreferrer">Old Chinese</a>. They are unrelated, as far as usage or glyph origins is concerned.</p>
<blockquote>
<h1>乘</h1>
<p>「乘」was originally a picture of a person「大」climbing on top of a tree「木」; <em>feet</em>「舛」were added on to the person later (Shape #2 onwards).</p>
<h1><kbd><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty" rel="noreferrer">商</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script" rel="noreferrer">甲</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/DcVNf.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/DcVNf.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="noreferrer">粹</a>1109<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=6491&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">合集6491</a></kbd><kbd><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Zhou" rel="noreferrer">西周</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bronze_inscriptions" rel="noreferrer">金</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/k3nj0.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/k3nj0.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br>公臣簋<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=4186&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">集成4186</a></kbd><kbd><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_seal_script" rel="noreferrer">篆</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/EXcAE.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/EXcAE.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuowen_Jiezi" rel="noreferrer">說文解字</a><br>　</kbd><kbd>現代<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_script" rel="noreferrer">楷</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/uBjUr.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/uBjUr.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br><br>　</kbd></h1>
<p>The original meanings were <em>to ascend, to ride an object</em>, extended to mean <em>to take advantage of [a situation]</em>. It does not mean <em>to transfer</em>, which is a coincidence due to its meaning of <em>ride</em>.</p>
<hr />
<h1>承</h1>
<p>「承」was originally a picture of two hands「」and「又」holding up a kneeling person「卩」. The kneeling person's legs were straightened (Shape #2), then replaced with another hand「手」to emphasise the meaning of <em>holding up</em>, leaving behind a small shape representing the rest of the person (Shape #3 onwards).</p>
<h1><kbd>商<br>甲<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/19Bgg.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/19Bgg.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="noreferrer">後</a>2.30.12<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=9175&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">合集9175</a></kbd><kbd><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warring_States_period" rel="noreferrer">戰國</a><br>金<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/HKe3S.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HKe3S.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br>令狐君嗣子<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/?bh=9719&amp;jgwfl=" rel="noreferrer">集成9719</a></kbd><kbd><br>篆<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/izupY.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/izupY.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br>說文解字<br>　</kbd><kbd>現代<br>楷<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/InJ98.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/InJ98.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br><br>　</kbd></h1>
<p>The original meaning was <em>to hold up</em>, extended to mean <em>to carry responsibility &gt; to inherit, carry on, continue</em>. <em>To transfer</em> may give a wrong impression if used incorrectly; it is only related in the sense of <em>to inherit, carry on, continue</em>.</p>
</blockquote>
<h1>References:</h1>
<ul>
<li>季旭昇《說文新證》</li>
<li><a href="http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/" rel="noreferrer">小學堂</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/" rel="noreferrer">國學大師</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-24T00:13:02.203Z
Wow - very authoritative answer - thanks for taking the time to provide the info :-)
Hashamyim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-23T23:03:12.267Z
2018-12-24T04:53:13.363Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
dROOOze
<p>Just learnt a few verbs which use 乘 and 承 and was thinking that, not only do they look and sound mighty similar, but their ultimate meanings are both related to 'transfering' something. 乘 with vehicles from one place to another and 承 with transferring responsibility (承担) or transferring guilt (承认). 
Anyone know if they stem from the same root? If so, how did they come to be different?
Hashamyim</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-23T21:53:44.447Z
乘= ride (on above) ; 承= hold up ( from under)/ take on
Tang Ho
<etymology><glyph-origin>
乘 vs 承 - are they related?
# 乘 vs 承 - are they related?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-12-23)

Just learnt a few verbs which use 乘 and 承 and was thinking that, not only do they look and sound mighty similar, but their ultimate meanings are both related to 'transfering' something. 乘 with vehicles from one place to another and 承 with transferring responsibility (承担) or transferring guilt (承认).
Anyone know if they stem from the same root? If so, how did they come to be different?
username_0

**Tags:** etymology, glyph-origin

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 乘= ride (on above) ; 承= hold up ( from under)/ take on  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-12-23. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

「乘」and「承」do indeed sound similar, but an etymological relation (if any) would be *before* the time of [Old Chinese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Chinese). They are unrelated, as far as usage or glyph origins is concerned.

> # 乘
>
> 「乘」was originally a picture of a person「大」climbing on top of a tree「木」; *feet*「舛」were added on to the person later (Shape #2 onwards).
>
> # `商 甲 enter image description here 粹1109 合集6491``西周 金 enter image description here 公臣簋 集成4186` `篆 enter image description here 說文解字``現代 楷 enter image description here`
>
> The original meanings were *to ascend, to ride an object*, extended to mean *to take advantage of [a situation]*. It does not mean *to transfer*, which is a coincidence due to its meaning of *ride*.
>
> ---
>
> # 承
>
> 「承」was originally a picture of two hands「」and「又」holding up a kneeling person「卩」. The kneeling person's legs were straightened (Shape #2), then replaced with another hand「手」to emphasise the meaning of *holding up*, leaving behind a small shape representing the rest of the person (Shape #3 onwards).
>
> # `商 甲 enter image description here 後2.30.12 合集9175``戰國 金 enter image description here 令狐君嗣子 集成9719` `篆 enter image description here 說文解字``現代 楷 enter image description here`
>
> The original meaning was *to hold up*, extended to mean *to carry responsibility > to inherit, carry on, continue*. *To transfer* may give a wrong impression if used incorrectly; it is only related in the sense of *to inherit, carry on, continue*.

# References:

* 季旭昇《說文新證》
* [小學堂](http://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/)
* [國學大師](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Wow - very authoritative answer - thanks for taking the time to provide the info :-)  

---

