aristocratic family; powerful clan
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
aristocratic family; powerful clan; privileged family
formalHistorically refers to powerful hereditary families, especially during the Wei-Jin Southern and Northern Dynasties period, who monopolized political power and social privileges. Often carries a negative connotation of oligarchy.
Wèi魏
Jìn晋
shí时
qí期
，
mén门
fá阀
shì士
zú族
lǒng垄
duàn断
le了
guó国
jiā家
de的
zhèng政
zhì治
quán权
lì力
。
During the Wei-Jin period, aristocratic clans monopolized the state's political power.
Tā他
chū出
shēn身
yú于
yī一
gè个
xiǎn显
hè赫
de的
mén门
fá阀
jiā家
zú族
。
He was born into a prominent aristocratic family.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Mén门
fá阀
zhì制
dù度
zài在
Zhōng中
guó国
lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
cún存
zài在
le了
shù数
bǎi百
nián年
。
The aristocratic clan system existed for several hundred years in Chinese history.
Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
jiù就
xiàng像
yī一
gè个
xiàn现
dài代
mén门
fá阀
，
kòng控
zhì制
zhe着
zhěng整
gè个
háng行
yè业
。
This company is like a modern-day aristocratic clan, controlling the entire industry.