HSK 5, ng, 11 strokes, radical 方, rank #3293, Hard
族
zú
nationality
HSK 5, ng, 11 strokes, radical 方, rank #3293, Hard
族
zú
ethnicity
HSK 5, ng, 11 strokes, radical 方, rank #3293, Hard
族
zú
clan
HSK 5, ng, 11 strokes, radical 方, rank #3293, Hard
族
zú
by extension, social group (e.g. office workers 上班族)
HSK 5, ng, 11 strokes, radical 方, rank #3293, Hard
族
zú
race, nationality, ethnicity; tribe, clan
HSK 5, ng, 11 strokes, radical 方, rank #3293, Hard
zú(zu2) T2
1race
2nationality
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March 24, 2026
族zú(zu2)
The character 族 (zú) refers to a group of people sharing common characteristics, such as race, nationality, or ethnicity. It is often used to describe clans or tribes, and it can extend to social groups, such as 'office workers' (上班族). In contexts discussing identity or community, it highlights collective traits and heritage.
Strokes11Radical方Frequency#3293DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, the concept of 族 is significant as it relates to familial lineage and social structure, especially in rural areas where clan ties are still strong. Discussions about 族 often invoke the importance of ancestry and cultural heritage in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a family tree with branches representing different races and ethnicities. The character 族 resembles a tree with roots (the bottom part) connecting to its branches (the top), symbolizing the idea of lineage and belonging to a larger group, which helps you remember its pronunciation 'zú'.
Meanings of 族
zú(zu2)
1race
2nationality
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 族
族Simplified
11Strokes
方Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#3293Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRC1
Podcast: 族
Podcast: 族
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AI Study Notes for 族
Quick Contrast
家族 (jiāzú) vs 族 (zú) — use 家族 when specifically referring to a family or lineage, while 族 is broader, encompassing various groups sharing common traits.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a family tree with branches representing different races and ethnicities. The character 族 resembles a tree with roots (the bottom part) connecting to its branches (the top), symbolizing the idea of lineage and belonging to a larger group, which helps you remember its pronunciation 'zú'.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 族 with similar terms like 民 (mín) which means 'people' or 'nationality.' This character is often used formally to discuss cultural or ethnic identity, and it appears in many compound words. Be careful with tone; the second tone (族) is crucial.
HSK Study Tips
族 is not classified under a specific HSK level but is relevant for learners aiming for higher proficiency. It relates well to terms like 民族 (mínzú - nationality) and 家族 (jiāzú - family/clan), which are useful for discussions about identity and heritage.
Cultural Note
In Chinese society, the concept of 族 is significant as it relates to familial lineage and social structure, especially in rural areas where clan ties are still strong. Discussions about 族 often invoke the importance of ancestry and cultural heritage in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 族 with 宗 (zōng), which refers more to religion or sect. For instance, saying '宗族' (zōngzú) might mislead to the idea of a religious group rather than an ethnic or clan group, where '族' is more appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 族
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Grammar Patterns of 族
族 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
现今的有机葡萄酒生产商一般是注重品质的小型家____企业.
Today's organic wine producer is typically a small, quality-conscious family concern.
We had strong family traditions; we couldn't escape them.
Cultural Notes for 族
💡Did you know?
In China, the concept of 族 is significant in understanding ethnic diversity. There are 56 officially recognized ethnic groups, each with unique cultures and traditions, contributing to the rich tapestry of Chinese society.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese society, the concept of 族 is significant as it relates to familial lineage and social structure, especially in rural areas where clan ties are still strong. Discussions about 族 often invoke the importance of ancestry and cultural heritage in Chinese culture.
📜Proverb
族群之间的和谐是社会稳定的基础. (Harmonious relationships between ethnic groups are the foundation of social stability.) This highlights the importance of unity in diversity.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While the concept of ethnicity and nationality exists in Western cultures, the emphasis on clan and lineage (族) is more pronounced in Chinese culture, where family history often plays a crucial role in social status and identity.
Word Family of 族
Compounds6
簇cu4bunch, cluster; crowd, swarm
镞zu2arrowhead, barb; quick, swift
嗾sou3to set a dog on; to incite, to instigate, to urge on
瘯
蔟cu4nest; silkworm frame; to collect
鏃
Words Containing This Character20
家族jiāzúfamily
民族mínzúnationality
族zúrace
种族zhǒngzúrace種族
贵族guìzúlord貴族
族人clansman
少数民族national minority少數民族
中华民族zhōnghuámínzúthe Chinese people中華民族
种族主义racism種族主義
部族tribe
种族歧视racism種族歧視
汉族Han ethnic group漢族
藏族Tibetan ethnic group
水族馆aquarium (building or park)水族館
苗族Hmong or Miao ethnic group of southwest China
皇族royal kin
塞族Serbs
民族主义nationalism民族主義
氏族clan
族群ethnic group
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 簇 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 族
族 (zú) typically refers to a broader concept of race or social group, while 民族 (mínzú) specifically denotes a nation or ethnic group. For example, 汉族 (Hàn zú) refers to the Han ethnic group, whereas 民族 can refer to the collective identity of various ethnicities within a nation. Understanding this distinction can help clarify discussions about identity in Chinese.
Yes, 族 (zú) is still widely used in modern contexts to describe various social groups. For instance, terms like '上班族' (shàngbān zú) for office workers or '宅男宅女' (zhái nán zhái nǚ) for homebodies show its relevance in contemporary discussions about lifestyle and social identity. It reflects how language evolves with society.
族 (zú) means race, nationality, or ethnicity in Chinese. It can also refer to a clan or social group, such as 上班族 (shàngbān zú), which means office workers. This character is often used in contexts discussing cultural or social identities.
族 (zú) can be used to describe different ethnic groups or social classes. For example, you could say '我们是一个多民族的国家' (wǒmen shì yīgè duō mínzú de guójiā), which means 'We are a multi-ethnic country.' Using it in contexts like '上班族' (shàngbān zú) helps convey specific social groups.
You can say '汉族' (Hànzú) to refer to the Han ethnicity, or '上班族' (shàngbānzú) to refer to office workers.
族 focuses more on clan or ethnic group, while 民 refers broadly to people or nationality.
Yes, it can be used positively to describe pride in one's heritage or negatively to highlight ethnic divides.
