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直系亲属 (zhí xì qīn shǔ) — direct relative (parent, spouse, or child); immediate family member

Definition

Legal/formal term for direct lineal relatives — parents, spouse, and children — the line of inheritance and family law. Contrast with 旁系亲属 (collateral kin like siblings and cousins).

noun
direct relative (parent, spouse, or child)immediate family member

Examples

  • 直系亲属、。
    zhí xì qīn shǔ Bāo kuò fù mǔ, pèi ǒu hé zǐ nǚ.
    Direct relatives include parents, spouse, and children.
  • 直系亲属。
    Zhǐ yǒu zhí xì qīn shǔ cái yǒu quán lì jì chéng yí chǎn.
    Only direct relatives have the right to inherit property.
  • 直系亲属。
    Yī yuàn guī dìng zhǐ yǒu zhí xì qīn shǔ kě yǐ tàn shì bìng rén.
    Hospital regulations only allow direct relatives to visit patients.

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.

直系direct line
直zhídirect系xìline
偏正Modifier + head
亲属relatives
亲qīnrelative属shǔkin
联合Coordinate

“直系” (direct line) narrows “亲属” (relatives) to immediate family.

Characters in this word

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

The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.

Open 直 →

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

系 is made by putting together 手 (hand) and 糸 (silk).

Open 系 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 親; 亲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
辛
辛xīn親qīn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 親 uses 見 (see) for sense and 辛 (a chisel) for sound; the simplified 亲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 亲 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 屬; 属 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
㞑Written in full as尾wěitail
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ屬shǔ
Same sound today

The traditional form 屬 pairs 㞑 (tail) with 蜀 as a sound part; the simplified 属 is a shorthand.

Open 属 →
Appears in
Family & Kinship

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