族 (zú) - Ethnic group, clan, tribe, family & a group of people sharing common ancestry, culture,

族Tone 2

zú ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

志

族 · zú

Ethnic group, clan, tribe, family;

a group of people sharing common ancestry, culture, or classification;

also refers to nationality or race.

Ethnic group, clan, tribe, familya group of people sharing common ancestry, culture,also refers to nationality or race.

Usage highlights

Ethnic groupHan ChineseFamily clanNoble classWorking classRace

Synonyms

  • 宗— Ancestral clan, lineage
  • 系— Lineage, system, series
  • 种— Race, kind, type

Antonyms

  • 个— Individual, single (as opposed to group)
  • 独— Alone, solitary

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The Han Chinese ethnic group(汉族)
  • A large family clan(大家族)
  • The human race(人族)
  • A noble family lineage(贵族)
  • Working class(工薪族)

Collocations

  • Ethnic group(民族)
  • Han Chinese(汉族)
  • Family clan(家族)
  • Noble class(贵族)
  • Working class(工薪族)
  • Race(种族)

Idioms

  • To exterminate an entire clan(灭族)
  • People of the same clan(同族)
  • Foreign races(异族)
  • To bring honor to one's ancestors(光宗耀祖)
  • A nation of propriety and righteousness(礼义之邦)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese society, the clan system was fundamental to social organization, with ancestral worship and lineage records being highly important.
  • The concept of '族' extends beyond family to encompass ethnic and national identities, reflecting China's multi-ethnic composition.
  • Modern usage includes contemporary social groups like '上班族' (office workers) and '月光族' (those who spend their entire monthly salary).

FAQ