属

• Pinyin: shǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 属 = 尸 (body) + simplified phonetic component, originally meaning to attach or belong

Meaning

To be born in the year of (a Chinese zodiac animal); to belong to a category.

Most commonly encountered when discussing Chinese zodiac years: 你属什么？(What zodiac animal were you born under?). Also means 'to be classified as' in a broader sense. The zodiac usage is uniquely cultural to Chinese-speaking societies.

Examples

1. 你属什么？我属马。 What zodiac animal are you? I was born in the Year of the Horse.
2. 她属猴，比我大两岁。 She was born in the Year of the Monkey, two years older than me.
3. 弟弟属兔，妹妹属龙。 My younger brother was born in the Year of the Rabbit, and my younger sister in the Year of the Dragon.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, zodiac, social

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 你属什么的？(What zodiac animal are you?)
• 我属虎，今年是我的本命年。(I was born in the Year of the Tiger; this is my zodiac year.)

Don't Say

• 这个东西属我。(Don't use bare 属 for ownership — use 属于 instead. Bare 属 is mainly used for zodiac signs or classification.)

Origin & History

Originally depicted something being connected or attached. The meaning 'to belong to' extended naturally to zodiac classification, indicating which animal year one belongs to.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal