嫡流

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The written form is 嫡流, read ちゃくりゅう. Elements for legitimate succession and line combine to denote a school’s direct lineage or a family’s main line.
• Basic usage: 嫡流を継ぐ describes an artisan carrying on a direct lineage, while 嫡流の王子 identifies a prince as belonging to the main family line.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Succession in a school
  • An artisan carries on the school’s direct lineage and demonstrates its technique. Example: その流派の嫡流を継ぐ職人が技を披露しました。 — An artisan carrying on the school's direct lineage demonstrated the technique.
• Main line versus branch family
  • The story contrasts a prince of the main line with one from a branch family. Example: 物語では嫡流の王子と分家の王子が対立します。 — In the story, a prince of the main line and a prince from a branch family are rivals.