氏族

shìzú
noun #22,409

Measure Word

Meanings

  1. 1 clan
  2. 2 tribe
  3. 3 gens (ancient kinship group)

Examples

HSK 5
Zài gǔdài, shìzú shì shèhuì zǔzhī de jīběn dānwèi.
In ancient times, the clan was the basic unit of social organization.
HSK 7-9
Zhège dìqū yǒu xǔduō bùtóng de shìzú, gèzì bǎoliú zhe zìjǐ de xísú.
This region has many different clans, each preserving their own customs.

Tips

usage
氏族 specifically refers to a clan defined by common ancestry (real or mythological) sharing the same (clan name). In anthropology it corresponds to the concept of a 'gens.' In modern Chinese, 家族 is more commonly used for 'clan' in everyday speech.

Stroke Order

shì