Meanings of 属
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About 属
Podcast: 属
Podcast: 属
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AI Study Notes for 属
类 (lèi, category) — use 属 when indicating belonging or affiliation, while 类 is more about classification without the sense of membership.
Imagine a tree (the character's form) with branches that connect different families (the 'belonging' aspect). Each branch represents a different year in the zodiac, where if you were born under a certain branch, you 'belong' to that family of animals.
A common mistake is to confuse 属 with similar characters like 住 (zhù), which means 'to live' or 'to reside.' Ensure you use 属 in contexts related to belonging or categorization. The tone is critical; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other words.
While 属 is not in the current HSK levels, it connects to words about family and classification at HSK levels 3 and 4. Students should focus on its usage in both familial and taxonomic contexts, as well as its role in the Chinese zodiac.
In Chinese culture, 属 is significant in discussing zodiac signs, which are deeply tied to personal identity and fortune-telling. Knowing your 属 animal is a common conversation starter during Lunar New Year celebrations.
Learners often confuse 属 with the character 属 (zhù). For example, saying '我住于狗' (Wǒ zhù yú gǒu) instead of '我属狗' (Wǒ shǔ gǒu) is incorrect when referring to zodiac sign, as the former means 'I live in the dog'.
Pronunciation of 属
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Etymology of 属
Simplified form of 屬. Phonosemantic compound. 尾 represents the meaning and 蜀 represents the sound.
body
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 属?
Decomposition of 属
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 属?
Write 属
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Practice writing 属 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 属
属 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 15 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.
Complete the Sentence
铅是早在古代就已知的金____之一。
Lead was one of the metals known to the ancient world.
Common Confusions with 属
Same pronunciation, but relates to counting.
Both characters are pronounced 'shǔ', but have different meanings.
属 (to belong to) vs. 署 (office, bureau)
Both characters are pronounced 'shǔ', but have different meanings.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "category"?
Example Sentences for 属 (10)
Cultural Notes for 属
In Chinese culture, 属 is significant in discussing zodiac signs, which are deeply tied to personal identity and fortune-telling. Knowing your 属 animal is a common conversation starter during Lunar New Year celebrations.
Word Family of 属
Compound Meaning
What does 嘱 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 属
While both 属 (shǔ) and 归属 (guīshǔ) relate to belonging, 属 is often used to denote membership in categories or groups, whereas 归属 emphasizes the sense of belonging or affiliation, often in a more emotional or personal context. For example, 归属感 means 'a sense of belonging.'