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族 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
族
zú
race
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)zu T2
1race
2nationality
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 族 means.
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.
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.
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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Learning Lab
Knowing 族 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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.
When to use 族
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.
族 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 族
族
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Practice writing 族 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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.
Common confusions with 族
族vs足
zú
Same pronunciation but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “race”?
or
Example sentences for 族 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
现今的有机葡萄酒生产商一般是注重品质的小型家族企业.
xiàn jīn de yǒujī pútaojiǔ shēngchǎn Shāng yìbān shì zhùzhòng pǐnzhì de xiǎoxíng jiāzú qǐyè.
Today's organic wine producer is typically a small, quality-conscious family concern.
The average commuter journey there is five hours long.
9
他称赞了她在反种族隔离制的斗争中发挥的重要作用。
tā chēngzàn le tā zài fǎn zhǒngzú gélí zhì de dòuzhēng zhōng fāhuī de zhòngyào zuòyòng。
He praised her role in the struggle against apartheid.
10
我们有浓厚的家族传统，我们无法逃避。
wǒmen yǒu nónghòu de jiāzú chuántǒng， wǒmen wúfǎ táobì。
We had strong family traditions; we couldn't escape them.
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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.
📜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cùbunch, cluster; crowd, swarm
镞zúarrowhead, barb; quick, swift
嗾sǒuto set a dog on; to incite, to instigate, to urge on
瘯cù
蔟cùnest; silkworm frame; to collect
鏃zú
Words containing this character20
家族jiāzúfamily
民族mínzúnationality
族zúrace
种族zhǒngzúrace種族
贵族guìzúlord貴族
族人zúrénclansman
少数民族shǎoshùmínzúnational minority少數民族
中华民族zhōnghuámínzúthe Chinese people中華民族
种族主义zhǒngzúzhǔyìracism種族主義
部族bùzútribe
种族歧视zhǒngzúqíshìracism種族歧視
汉族hànzúHan ethnic group漢族
藏族zàngzúTibetan ethnic group
水族馆shuǐzúguǎnaquarium (building or park)水族館
苗族miáozúHmong or Miao ethnic group of southwest China
皇族huángzúroyal kin
塞族sàizúSerbs
民族主义mínzúzhǔyìnationalism民族主義
氏族shìzúclan
族群zúqúnethnic group
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 族
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.
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