家族

jiāzú: 家族 - Family, Clan, Lineage

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: jiazú, jiāzú, 家族, Chinese family, Chinese clan, what is jiazú, family in Chinese, extended family, lineage in Chinese, Chinese family structure, 家族 vs 家庭
  • Summary: Discover the deep meaning of 家族 (jiāzú), a core concept in Chinese culture. More than just the immediate “family,” `jiāzú` refers to the entire clan or lineage, encompassing multiple generations, shared ancestry, and a collective identity. This page explores its cultural significance, modern usage, and how it differs from the Western idea of family, providing a crucial insight for anyone learning Chinese.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): jiāzú
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 5
  • Concise Definition: A family, clan, or lineage, often encompassing multiple generations and extended relatives connected by a common surname and ancestry.
  • In a Nutshell: While the English word “family” can be ambiguous, 家族 (jiāzú) specifically means the large, extended family or clan. Think beyond the people you live with (`家庭`, jiātíng) and imagine grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and even distant relatives all connected by a shared bloodline and history. It's a concept of “we” that extends through time, carrying with it a sense of shared honor, responsibility, and heritage.

Character Breakdown

  • 家 (jiā): This character famously depicts a “pig” (豕) under a “roof” (宀). In ancient China, pigs were a valuable domestic asset, so a pig under a roof symbolized a home, household, or family.
  • 族 (zú): This character is a combination of a banner/flag (top part) and an arrow (矢, shǐ) at the bottom. It originally represented a group of people, like a tribe or clan, gathered under a common banner, possibly for a hunt or battle. It signifies a group with a common identity.
  • Together, 家族 (jiāzú) literally translates to “family-clan,” combining the idea of a household with the broader concept of a tribe or lineage, perfectly capturing its meaning of an extended, multi-generational family unit.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, the 家族 (jiāzú) has historically been the fundamental building block of society, far more so than the individual. Rooted in Confucian philosophy, the concept emphasizes collectivism, hierarchy, and continuity. An individual's actions, successes, and failures were seen as reflecting on the entire `家族`, not just themselves.
  • Comparison to Western “Family”: The Western concept of family often defaults to the “nuclear family” (parents and children). While we have terms like “extended family” or “relatives,” they don't carry the same weight or inherent sense of collective identity as `家族`. A `家族` implies a deep-rooted network with a shared past and a collective future. It is bound by duties and traditions, such as ancestor worship and the expectation of filial piety (孝顺, xiàoshùn), where younger generations show deep respect and care for their elders (长辈, zhǎngbèi).
  • This concept is the source of many cultural values, including the pressure to succeed to bring honor to the family, the importance of continuing the family name, and the strong network of support (and obligation) that relatives provide.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • While the traditional, all-powerful clan structure has weakened in modern China, the spirit of `家族` remains influential.
  • Family Gatherings: The concept is most visible during major festivals like Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), where it's common for the entire `家族` to gather, sometimes traveling long distances to their ancestral hometown.
  • Business: The term 家族企业 (jiāzú qǐyè), meaning “family business,” is very common. These businesses are often run by and employ members of the same clan, relying on the inherent trust and obligations within the `家族`.
  • Identity: For many, their `家族` history and hometown are still key parts of their identity. People might introduce themselves by mentioning their ancestral home, connecting them to a larger historical lineage.
  • The term is generally neutral to positive, evoking a sense of heritage and belonging. It's more formal than simply talking about your immediate family.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我们家族每年春节都会回老家团聚。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen jiāzú měinián Chūnjié dōu huì huí lǎojiā tuánjù.
    • English: Our entire clan goes back to our ancestral home to reunite every Spring Festival.
    • Analysis: This is a classic example showing the `家族` as a large, multi-generational group gathering for a traditional holiday. `老家 (lǎojiā)` refers to the ancestral hometown.
  • Example 2:
    • 他来自一个有着悠久历史的音乐家族。
    • Pinyin: Tā láizì yī ge yǒuzhe yōujiǔ lìshǐ de yīnyuè jiāzú.
    • English: He comes from a musical family with a long history.
    • Analysis: Here, `家族` emphasizes a lineage known for a specific trait or profession passed down through generations.
  • Example 3:
    • 这家公司是一个典型的家族企业。
    • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī shì yī ge diǎnxíng de jiāzú qǐyè.
    • English: This company is a typical family business.
    • Analysis: This highlights a common and important collocation, 家族企业 (jiāzú qǐyè). It implies that ownership and management are concentrated within a single clan.
  • Example 4:
    • 维护家族的荣誉是每个成员的责任。
    • Pinyin: Wéihù jiāzú de róngyù shì měi ge chéngyuán de zérèn.
    • English: Maintaining the family's honor is the responsibility of every member.
    • Analysis: This sentence reflects the deep cultural value of collective honor tied to the `家族`.
  • Example 5:
    • 这本家谱记录了我们家族五代人的信息。
    • Pinyin: Zhè běn jiāpǔ jìlùle wǒmen jiāzú wǔ dài rén de xìnxī.
    • English: This genealogy book records the information of five generations of our clan.
    • Analysis: This connects `家族` to the physical record of its lineage, the `家谱 (jiāpǔ)`.
  • Example 6:
    • 在古代中国，家族的势力非常强大。
    • Pinyin: Zài gǔdài Zhōngguó, jiāzú de shìlì fēicháng qiángdà.
    • English: In ancient China, the power of the clans was immense.
    • Analysis: This uses `家族` in a historical context to refer to the powerful clans that influenced politics and society.
  • Example 7:
    • 他们是当地四大家族之一。
    • Pinyin: Tāmen shì dāngdì sì dà jiāzú zhī yī.
    • English: They are one of the four great families/clans of the local area.
    • Analysis: The structure “Number + 大家族” is often used to refer to influential clans, both in history and fiction (e.g., in Jin Yong's wuxia novels).
  • Example 8:
    • 他因为个人的丑闻，让整个家族都蒙羞了。
    • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi gèrén de chǒuwén, ràng zhěnggè jiāzú dōu méngxiū le.
    • English: Because of his personal scandal, he brought shame upon the entire clan.
    • Analysis: This is the flip side of Example 4, showing how an individual's negative actions can affect the reputation of the whole `家族`.
  • Example 9:
    • 这个家族的成员遍布世界各地。
    • Pinyin: Zhège jiāzú de chéngyuán biànbù shìjiè gèdì.
    • English: The members of this clan are spread all over the world.
    • Analysis: This shows that `家族` is about bloodline, not physical location. Members can be part of the clan even if they live far apart.
  • Example 10:
    • 这种病在我们家族中有遗传史。
    • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng bìng zài wǒmen jiāzú zhōng yǒu yíchuán shǐ.
    • English: This disease has a history of being hereditary in our family (lineage).
    • Analysis: Here, `家族` is used in a medical context to refer to a genetic lineage, which is a very practical and modern application of the term.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 家族 (jiāzú) vs. 家庭 (jiātíng): This is the most critical distinction for learners. They are not interchangeable.
    • 家庭 (jiātíng): Refers to your household or nuclear family. These are the people you live with—your parents, spouse, children. It's about cohabitation and immediate relationships.
    • 家族 (jiāzú): Refers to your entire clan or lineage. This includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and ancestors you've never met. It's about shared ancestry and surname.
  • Incorrect Usage:
    • `我爱我的家族。` (Wǒ ài wǒ de jiāzú.)
    • Explanation: While not grammatically wrong, this sounds very formal and a bit strange in daily conversation. To say “I love my family,” you would almost always use 家庭 (jiātíng) or 家人 (jiārén - family members).
    • Correct: `我爱我的家庭。` (Wǒ ài wǒ de jiātíng.) or `我爱我的家人。` (Wǒ ài wǒ de jiārén.)
  • When to use 家族: Use it when talking about ancestry, lineage, heritage, a family business, or a large gathering of relatives from different households.
    • Correct: `我们家族的历史很长。` (Our clan has a long history.)
    • Incorrect: `我昨天和我的家族一起吃了晚饭。` (Unless you literally had dinner with your entire clan of 50 people, you should use `家人` (jiārén) or `家里人` (jiālǐrén)).

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 家庭 (jiātíng) - The immediate family or household. The most common word for “family” in daily life, contrasted with the broader `家族`.
  • 家人 (jiārén) - Family member(s). Used to refer to the people in your family.
  • 亲戚 (qīnqi) - Relatives. A general term for all your relatives, including those by marriage. It's less formal and less focused on lineage than `家族`.
  • 家谱 (jiāpǔ) - Family tree; genealogy records. The official book that documents the history and members of a `家族`.
  • 血缘 (xuèyuán) - Blood relationship; lineage. The biological tie that binds a `家族`.
  • 宗族 (zōngzú) - A more formal or historical term for a patriarchal clan, often one that shares a common ancestral temple.
  • 孝顺 (xiàoshùn) - Filial piety. The Confucian virtue of respect and obedience towards one's parents and elders, a cornerstone of the `家族` system.
  • 长辈 (zhǎngbèi) - Elders; senior generation. A person of an older generation within a family, who is owed respect.
  • 后代 (hòudài) - Descendants; posterity. The future generations that continue the `家族` line.