About
The character "族" is structurally composed of "方", representing a banner, and "矢", denoting an arrow, which together originally conveyed the idea of a kinship or tribal group united under a common emblem, often with martial connotations. Etymologically, this referred to specific clans or tribes, but over time its meaning broadened to encompass any collective entity defined by shared attributes, such as ethnicity, family lineage, or categorical distinctions. This semantic expansion is evident in modern compounds where "族" functions as a suffix indicating groups based on nationality, profession, or other commonalities, reflecting its evolution from a term for concrete social units to an abstract classifier for various types of assemblages.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我们是一个大家族。
这个国家有许多不同的民族。
他是我们族里最年长的人。
上班族每天都忙着工作。
古代贵族的生活很奢侈。
这个姓氏在当地是个大族。
少数民族的传统文化值得保护。
水族馆里有很多稀有鱼类。