家族

• Pinyin: jiā zú
• Hanzi breakdown: 家 = 宀 + 豕 (roof + pig — household); 族 = 方 + 矢 + 人 (banner + arrow + people — a group rallying under a banner)

Meaning

Clan; family lineage; a group of families sharing common ancestry; the extended family as a social or cultural unit.

More expansive than 家庭 (nuclear family), emphasising lineage, bloodline, and collective identity. Used in historical, anthropological, and contemporary business contexts (family business dynasties, political clans). Central to Chinese social organisation, especially in traditional and rural contexts.

Examples

1. 这个家族在当地已繁衍生息数百年，族谱记载了历代先祖的姓名与事迹。 This clan has flourished locally for centuries, and its genealogy records the names and deeds of its ancestors through the generations.
2. 这家跨国企业虽已上市，但核心决策权至今仍牢牢掌握在创始家族手中。 Although this multinational company is publicly listed, the core decision-making power is still firmly held by the founding family.
3. 古代帝王将相往往通过联姻来巩固家族势力与政治同盟，形成错综复杂的权力网络。 In ancient times, emperors and powerful families often used marriage alliances to consolidate family power and political ties, forming a complex web of influence.

Usage Guide

Context: history, culture, business, anthropology

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 宗族文化曾深刻影响基层治理，家族在维持秩序、调解纠纷和传承习俗上作用很大。(Clan culture once deeply influenced grassroots governance, and clans played a major role in maintaining order, mediating disputes, and passing on customs.)
• 工业化和城镇化推进后，传统家族聚居逐渐瓦解，但部分地区家族观念仍很强。(As industrialization and urbanization advanced, traditional clan settlements gradually broke down, but clan loyalties remain strong in some regions.)

Don't Say

• 家族 vs 家庭 — 家族 refers to an extended lineage or clan; 家庭 refers to the immediate nuclear family unit. Do not use them interchangeably: 家庭作业 (homework) cannot be 家族作业

Origin & History

家 (family; household) + 族 (clan; ethnic group; tribe)

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient to contemporary

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal