si6 zuk6氏族
Jyutpingsi6 zuk6
Yalesih juhk
Definition
Clan; a social organization of people sharing the same surname and blood lineage.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Refers specifically to a social group bound by shared ancestry and surname, often carrying a sense of historical or anthropological weight. It is rarely used in casual daily conversation unless discussing genealogy, history, or specific ethnic traditions. In modern urban contexts, people are far more likely to use 家族 to describe their immediate or extended family unit.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Their entire clan lives inside this village.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 家族, which refers to a family or household. 氏族 implies a much broader, ancestral, and often tribal connection that extends beyond the immediate family members.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
