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少数民族 (shǎo shù mín zú) — ethnic minority (especially in the context of China's 56 officially recognized ethnic groups)

Definition

Literally 'minority nationality' — the official Chinese term for ethnic minorities, especially China's 56 recognized groups. Pairs with 汉族 (Han majority) to describe the ethnic composition of China.

noun
ethnic minority (especially in the context of China's 56 officially recognized ethnic groups)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 56少数民族。
    Zhōng guó yǒu 56 gè shǎo shù mín zú.
    China has 56 ethnic minorities.
  • 少数民族。
    Zhè ge shǎo shù mín zú yǒu zì jǐ de yǔ yán hé fēng sú.
    This ethnic minority has its own language and customs.
  • 少数民族。
    Zhèng fǔ chū tái le hěn duō zhèng cè lái zhī chí shǎo shù mín zú de fā zhǎn.
    The government has introduced many policies to support the development of ethnic minorities.

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.

少数small number
少shǎofew数shùnumber
偏正Modifier + head
民族ethnic group
民mínpeople族zúclan
联合Coordinate

The 少数 of a 民族 names an ethnic minority.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 少 is drawn as four dots, perhaps three grains of sand, to indicate a few or a little.

Open 少 →

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 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
婁
婁lóu數shù(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.

Open 数 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The early form of 民 shows an eye pierced by a sharp cross-shaped implement, possibly linked to an injured or unclear eye.

Open 民 →

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 →
Appears in
Ethnic Groups & Nationalities

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