传授 means 'to impart' or 'to pass on' knowledge, skills, experience, or teachings from one person to another—typically from a teacher, master, or expert to a student or apprentice. The character 传 (chuán) means 'to transmit' or 'to pass down', while 授 (shòu) means 'to confer', 'to bestow', or 'to grant'. Together, they form a formal, respectful verb emphasizing intentional, authoritative transfer—not casual sharing. It is commonly used in educational, professional, and traditional contexts like martial arts, craftsmanship, or classical scholarship.

This word carries a tone of seriousness and responsibility: the giver is expected to be qualified, and the receiver is expected to be receptive and diligent. It appears frequently in written Chinese and formal speech, but rarely in casual conversation—where verbs like 教 (jiāo, 'to teach') or 告诉 (gàosu, 'to tell') are more common. 传授 often implies depth, continuity, and cultural or technical significance, such as passing down family recipes, ancient texts, or medical techniques.