宗族 (zōng zú) — patriarchal clan (a Chinese social organization based on patrilineal descent, common ancestry, and shared rituals)

Definition

宗族 is the patrilineal kinship group organized around a shared male ancestor — a lineage-based clan with collective rituals and land. Wider than 家族 (extended family), more formal than 亲戚 (relatives generally).

noun
patriarchal clan (a Chinese social organization based on patrilineal descent, common ancestry, and shared rituals)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 宗族，。
    Zhè ge cūn zi lǐ de zōng zú fēi cháng tuán jié, měi nián dōu huì yì qǐ jì zǔ.
    The clan in this village is very united; they hold ancestral worship together every year.
  • 宗族。
    zōng zú Zhì dù zài lì shǐ shàng duì zhōng guó de shè huì jié gòu yǐng xiǎng hěn dà.
    The clan system had a great influence on China's social structure in history.
  • 。
    Tā chū shēn yú yí gè yǒu míng de dà zōng zú.
    He comes from a famous large clan.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

宗zōnglineage
族zúclan

The clan term joins 宗 (lineage) and 族 (kin group), both pointing to the same patrilineal group.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 示示shìspirit tablet

宗 pairs 宀, a house, with 示, a spirit tablet, to show an ancestral shrine or temple.

Open 宗 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

族 combines 㫃, a flag, and 矢, an arrow.

Open 族 →

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