望族 (wàng zú) — (written) distinguished or prominent family

Definition

A written term for a prestigious family line with a long history of wealth or status. Conveys more social weight than the everyday 家族, which just means 'family/clan'.

noun
(written) distinguished or prominent family

Examples

  • 望族，。
    Zhè ge jiā zú shì dāng dì yǒu míng de wàng zú, yǐ jīng chuán chéng le sān bǎi nián.
    This family is a well-known prominent family in the area, and has been passed down for three hundred years.
  • 望族，。
    Tā de jiā zú céng jīng shì jiāng nán dì qū de wàng zú, dàn xiàn zài yǐ shuāi luò.
    His family was once a prominent family in the Jiangnan region, but has now declined.
  • 望族。
    Lì shǐ shàng xǔ duō wàng zú dōu zhòng shì jiào yù yǔ wén huà chuán chéng.
    Many distinguished families in history placed importance on education and cultural transmission.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

望wàngprestige
族zúfamily

望 gives prestige and 族 gives family, making a distinguished clan.

Characters in this word

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

  • 臣臣chéneye
  • 𡈼𡈼𡈼person standing on the ground

望 originally showed 臣 (eye) beside 𡈼 (person standing on the ground): a person standing up and looking off into the distance. Later 月 was added, and the 臣 part became 亡.

Open 望 →

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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