亲属

• Pinyin: qīn shǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 亲 = 立 (stand) + 木 (tree) + 见 (see) — close relation; 属 = 尸 (body) + 禹 (Yu) — to belong to

Meaning

Relatives; family members. People related by blood or marriage.

A formal term for relatives, used in legal documents, official forms, and formal discussions. Covers both blood relatives (血亲 — blood relations) and in-laws (姻亲 — marriage relations). More formal than 亲戚 (relatives in casual speech).

Examples

1. 请在表格中填写紧急联系人及其与您的亲属关系。 Please fill in the emergency contact and their relationship to you on the form.
2. 他的亲属从各地赶来参加葬礼。 His relatives came from all over to attend the funeral.
3. 这项福利只适用于员工的直系亲属。 This benefit only applies to the employee's immediate family members.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, official, formal

Tone: official

Do Say

• 请通知他的亲属。(Please notify his relatives.)
• 亲属关系证明需要公证。(Proof of family relationship requires notarization.)

Don't Say

• 在日常对话中通常说'亲戚'而不是'亲属' (In daily conversation, use 亲戚 rather than 亲属 — the latter is formal/legal)

Origin & History

Compound of 亲 (close, relative, parent) and 属 (belong to, category). Together they denote people who belong to one's family circle.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal