家族式 (jiā zú shì) — family-style, clan-style (of management, organization, or business)

Definition

An adjective describing an organization or business run like a clan — relatives hold key positions and decision-making stays inside the family. Usually carries a negative tone, implying nepotism and a lack of professional management.

adjective
family-styleclan-style (of management, organization, or business)

Examples

  • 家族式，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī shì jiā zú shì guǎn lǐ de, hěn duō zhòng yào zhí wèi dōu shì qīn qi.
    This company is run in a family-style way; many important positions are held by relatives.
  • 家族式，。
    jiā zú shì Qǐ yè suī rán jué cè kuài, dàn quē fá zhuān yè rén cái.
    Although family-style businesses make decisions quickly, they lack professional talent.
  • 家族式，。
    Tā pī píng le gōng sī de jiā zú shì zuò fēng, jiàn yì yǐn rù xiàn dài guǎn lǐ zhì dù.
    He criticized the company's clan-style approach and suggested introducing modern management systems.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

家族family or clan
家jiāhome or family族zúclan
联合Side by side
式shìstyle

「家族」 as family or clan and 「式」 as style combine to describe a family-style organization.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢑓
𢑓𢑓家jiā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The early drawing of 家 showed a roof 宀 over a male-pig sign 𢑓 that gave the pronunciation; the lower part later changed shape.

Open 家 →

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 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
工工gōngwork
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì式shì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

式 pairs 工, meaning work, with 弋, which gives the sound.

Open 式 →

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