素族 (sù zú) — commoner (in historical or literary contexts)

Definition

Literary/historical term for the commoner class in ancient China, paired with 贵族 in contrast. Strongly bound to classical or pre-modern writing, not used in modern speech.

noun
commoner (in historical or literary contexts)

Examples

  • ，素族。
    Zài gǔ dài, sù zú yǔ guì zú zhī jiān yǒu zhe yán gé de děng jí chā yì.
    In ancient times, there were strict class differences between commoners and nobles.
  • 素族。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō miáo xiě le sù zú de shēng huó yǔ kǔ nàn.
    This novel depicts the life and suffering of commoners.
  • 素族，。
    Tā suī chū shēn sù zú, què píng jiè cái huá chéng wéi míng chén.
    Although he was born a commoner, he became a famous minister through his talent.

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.

素sùplain/common
族zúclan/group

素 suggests plain or common, while 族 refers to a group or clan, together naming ordinary people.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 素 came from a picture of hands braiding thread.

Open 素 →

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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