眷属 (juàn shǔ) — family members (especially one's spouse and dep… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary/formal word for family members, especially one's spouse and close dependents. Carries a more written, official tone than everyday terms like 家人, and is the standard term used in legal and ceremonial contexts (e.g. 夫妻眷属, 战争中的眷属).

noun

family members (especially one's spouse and dependents)

Examples

眷属。
Tā de juàn shǔ dōu zhù zài zhè lǐ.
His family members all live here.
眷属。
Tā men zhōng yú chéng le juàn shǔ.
They finally became a married couple.
，眷属。
Zhàn zhēng qī jiān, tā wú fǎ zhào gù tā de juàn shǔ.
During the war, he couldn't take care of his family.

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.

眷 and 属 both refer to kin, so 眷属 means family dependents.

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.

龹目眷

Meaning part形符xíngfú

目目mùeye

Sound part声符shēngfú

龹

龹龹眷juàn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

眷 combines 目 (eye) with 龹; 目 is the meaning part and 龹 is the sound part.

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.

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