Use the words for clan, genealogy and ancestors carefully when reading family history.
Words and selected meanings#
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning in this context |
|---|---|---|
| 宗族 | zōng zú | clan |
| 家谱 | jiā pǔ | genealogy; family tree |
| 祖先 | zǔ xiān | ancestors |
A practical way to interpret the context#
When examining a genealogy, record who compiled it, when it was compiled and which people it actually includes. A shared surname alone does not establish a documented family connection. Treat a family account as evidence about that account’s subjects, not about every Chinese household.
Scope and source#
This is a vocabulary-based introduction and a set of editorial questions. It does not measure how frequently a practice occurs or describe the beliefs of all Chinese people.
Lexical data adapted from CC-CEDICT contributors, distributed by MDBG, 23 October 2026 release, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses have been selected and shortened. Dictionary release.