Explanation at your level:
You use 亲属 to talk about your family. It means 'relatives'. If you have a mom, dad, or brother, they are your 亲属. It is a very important word to know when you talk about who you live with or who you love.
At this level, you learn that 亲属 is more formal than 'family'. You might use it when you are at the hospital or the airport. It helps you identify who belongs to your family group clearly.
As you move to intermediate, you see 亲属 in more professional settings. You learn that it includes people related by marriage. It is a key term in legal contexts, such as inheritance or emergency contact forms.
At the upper-intermediate level, you understand the nuance between 'immediate family' (直系亲属) and 'extended family'. You recognize that this term is used to establish legal status and social responsibility within a family unit.
In advanced usage, 亲属 appears in academic papers about sociology or law. It is used to discuss kinship systems and the evolution of family structures. You can use it to describe complex genealogical ties with precision.
At the mastery level, you appreciate the cultural weight of 亲属. It connects to deep traditions of filial piety and ancestral worship. You can use it to discuss the philosophical implications of how society defines 'belonging' and 'bloodline' in a historical context.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Formal term for relatives.
- Used in legal/official contexts.
- Collective noun, no plural.
- Includes blood and marriage ties.
When we talk about 亲属 (qīn shǔ), we are talking about the people who share our family history. It is a broad term that covers everyone from your parents and siblings to those distant cousins you only see at weddings.
Think of it as a way to map out your kinship. Whether it is by blood, like your sister, or by marriage, like your brother-in-law, they all fall under this umbrella. It is a very useful word when you need to describe your family circle in a formal or general way.
The word 亲属 is composed of two characters that tell a story. 亲 (qīn) means intimate or related, while 属 (shǔ) means to belong or to be part of a group.
Historically, this term evolved to categorize family structures in Chinese society, which places high importance on lineage. It reflects the deep-rooted cultural value of family hierarchy. Understanding this word helps you grasp how Chinese culture defines the boundaries of who is 'in' the family group.
You will often see 亲属 used in legal documents, medical forms, or official reports. It is much more formal than saying 'family members' (家人) in casual conversation.
Commonly, you might hear it in phrases like 'notify a relative' or 'legal kin'. If you are filling out a government form, you will almost certainly see this word used to ask for your emergency contact information.
While 亲属 itself is a noun, it is part of many cultural expressions. 1. 远亲不如近邻 (Distant relatives are not as helpful as close neighbors). 2. 六亲不认 (To disown one's own family). 3. 亲属关系 (Kinship relationship). 4. 直系亲属 (Immediate family). 5. 旁系亲属 (Collateral relatives).
These expressions show how the concept of 'relatives' is used to define social behavior and moral expectations in traditional society.
In Chinese, 亲属 does not change form for pluralization. It is a collective noun, so you do not need to add extra particles to indicate more than one person.
The pronunciation is 'qīn' (first tone) and 'shǔ' (third tone). It rhymes with words like 'bīn' and 'wǔ' in various contexts. It is a standard noun that functions as the subject or object of a sentence.
Fun Fact
The character 属 originally meant to join or connect.
Pronunciation Guide
Approximated for English speakers.
Approximated for English speakers.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing tone 1
- Mispronouncing tone 3
- Adding extra syllables
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Collective Nouns
亲属
Formal vs Casual
亲属 vs 亲戚
Legal Chinese
直系亲属
Examples by Level
这是我的亲属。
This is my relative.
Subject-verb-object.
你有亲属吗？
Do you have relatives?
Question particle.
我爱我的亲属。
I love my relatives.
Simple sentence.
他是我的亲属。
He is my relative.
Pronoun usage.
亲属很重要。
Relatives are important.
Adjective usage.
我去看亲属。
I go to see relatives.
Verb usage.
亲属在家里。
The relatives are at home.
Location phrase.
很多亲属来了。
Many relatives came.
Quantifier usage.
请填写您的亲属信息。
我的亲属住在北京。
亲属之间要互相帮助。
他没有这里的亲属。
我有很多远方亲属。
亲属聚会很有趣。
这是亲属关系证明。
请联系您的亲属。
直系亲属需要到场签字。
法律规定了亲属的继承权。
他是我唯一的亲属。
亲属关系在社会中很重要。
我们应该照顾年长的亲属。
这项福利仅限直系亲属。
他拜访了所有的亲属。
亲属的定义在不同文化中不同。
在紧急情况下，请联系亲属。
亲属间的纽带是不可分割的。
他试图寻找失散的亲属。
这项政策涵盖了所有三代亲属。
亲属关系往往伴随着责任。
他通过亲属获得了这份工作。
我们讨论了亲属之间的矛盾。
亲属网络是社会支持的基础。
该法案明确了亲属的法律地位。
亲属关系的演变反映了社会变迁。
他深入研究了古代的亲属制度。
亲属间的利益纠葛往往很复杂。
在人类学中，亲属是一个核心概念。
她通过亲属关系获得了政治支持。
亲属的界定在法律上非常严谨。
这种亲属结构在现代社会正在消失。
亲属观念的建构是文化人类学的基石。
在宗法社会中，亲属等级森严。
他探讨了亲属称谓背后的社会逻辑。
这种亲属制度体现了深厚的家族主义。
亲属关系的重构是城市化进程的必然。
他从亲属结构分析了该民族的起源。
亲属义务在传统礼教中占据核心地位。
该研究揭示了亲属网络对经济的影响。
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"六亲不认"
To disown one's own family; to be heartless.
他为了钱六亲不认。
casual"远亲不如近邻"
Distant relatives are not as helpful as close neighbors.
别担心，远亲不如近邻。
proverb"终成眷属"
To eventually become a family (usually married).
愿天下有情人终成眷属。
literary"亲属关系"
Kinship/Relationship.
这是合法的亲属关系。
formal"血浓于水"
Blood is thicker than water.
毕竟血浓于水，他们和好了。
idiomatic"骨肉相连"
Close family ties.
我们是骨肉相连的一家人。
literaryEasily Confused
Both mean relatives.
亲戚 is casual, 亲属 is formal.
亲戚 vs 亲属.
Both mean family.
家人 is 'family members', 亲属 is 'kin'.
家人 vs 亲属.
Both relate to family.
族人 is clan-based.
族人 vs 亲属.
Both mean family.
眷属 is often for spouses.
眷属 vs 亲属.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 是 + 我的 + 亲属
他是我的亲属。
请 + 联系 + 您的 + 亲属
请联系您的亲属。
直系 + 亲属 + 必须 + 签字
直系亲属必须签字。
寻找 + 失散的 + 亲属
他在寻找失散的亲属。
关于 + 亲属 + 的 + 法律
关于亲属的法律很复杂。
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
亲属 implies blood or legal ties, not friendship.
亲戚 is more colloquial, 亲属 is more formal.
亲属 is already collective.
亲属 is for humans.
亲属 sounds too cold/legal in casual settings.
Tips
Memory Palace
Place your relatives in a house.
Forms
Use it on official documents.
Hierarchy
Understand the importance of lineage.
No Plural
Don't add 们.
Tones
Practice the 1st and 3rd tones.
Don't use for friends
Keep it for family.
Etymology
It means 'connected group'.
Context
Learn it with legal terms.
Professionalism
Use it in business.
Respect
Use it to show respect.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Qin' as 'Kin' (sounds similar) and 'Shu' as 'Group'.
Visual Association
A family tree diagram.
Word Web
Challenge
List 5 of your relatives in Chinese.
Word Origin
Chinese
Original meaning: Intimate belongings/group
Cultural Context
Highly sensitive in legal/inheritance contexts.
The concept of 'relatives' is similar but less formal than the Chinese legalistic definition.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Hospital/Legal
- 紧急联系人
- 直系亲属
- 签字
Genealogy
- 亲属关系
- 祖先
- 血缘
Social
- 亲属聚会
- 探望亲属
- 亲戚朋友
Business
- 亲属回避
- 利益相关
Conversation Starters
"你有很多亲属吗？"
"你通常怎么称呼你的亲属？"
"你认为亲属关系重要吗？"
"你参加过亲属聚会吗？"
"你了解你的亲属吗？"
Journal Prompts
写下你对亲属关系的看法。
描述一次难忘的亲属聚会。
为什么亲属关系在社会中很重要？
你如何定义亲属？
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsThey are similar, but 亲属 is more formal.
No, it is for family only.
Yes.
It is a collective noun.
On forms.
Yes, but mostly in formal contexts.
直系亲属.
No, it is a noun.
Test Yourself
他是我的___。
Relative fits the context.
Which word is most formal?
亲属 is the most formal.
亲属 can include people by marriage.
Yes, affinity counts.
Word
Meaning
Legal definitions.
Please contact your relatives.
Score: /5
Summary
亲属 is the formal term for relatives, essential for legal and official family identification.
- Formal term for relatives.
- Used in legal/official contexts.
- Collective noun, no plural.
- Includes blood and marriage ties.
Memory Palace
Place your relatives in a house.
Forms
Use it on official documents.
Hierarchy
Understand the importance of lineage.
No Plural
Don't add 们.
Example
所有的亲属都来参加了他的婚礼。
