Definitions
(noun)
clan; family name
Etymology
Pictograph of a tool similar to a hammer that is shaped like deer antlers. Original meaning unclear.
About
The character 氏 is an independent radical and a pictographic symbol. It originally depicted an ancient totemic emblem or clan standard, perhaps representing a person bowing, and symbolized a distinct tribal or familial group. In early usage, it served as a designation for a clan, lineage, or aristocratic family, during an era when surnames and clan names were separate. As naming conventions later merged, 氏 evolved into an honorific suffix attached to a family name or title, indicating respect, a maiden name, or a professional lineage. Today, it primarily functions as a marker of ancestry, denoting a specific surname or a kinship group connected by shared bloodlines.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
李氏家族很富有。
摄氏温度是常用的。
这位女士姓张氏。
王氏公司发展迅速。
这个方案基于陈氏研究。
在历史上，许多氏族迁移了。
这种治疗方法源于张氏中医理论。
通过基因分析，科学家确定了该氏族的起源。