Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 一族 | ichizoku | [it͡ɕizo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 一門 | ichimon | [it͡ɕimõ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
| 一家 | ikka | [ik̚ka̠] (narrow) |
| クラン | kuran | |
| 氏族 | shizoku | [ɕizo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
The term refers to a group of people sharing a common ancestor.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 一族 is composed of 一 (one) and 族 (tribe, family or clan).
Which one should you use?
There are several ways to express different types of groups depending on the context. 一族 (ichizoku) is the general term for a large extended clan or lineage. In contrast, 一家 (ikka) refers specifically to a single nuclear household or a single family unit living together. 氏族 (shizoku) is a more academic or anthropological term for 'clan'. For professional or artistic groups, such as a school of martial arts or a lineage of traditional craftsmen, 一門 (ichimon) is used. Finally, the katakana loanword クラン (kuran) is primarily used in the context of online gaming to refer to a player guild or clan.
How do you pronounce it?
ichizoku
Did you know?
- In the samurai era, the concept of 一族 was so strong that the 'collective responsibility' rule meant an entire clan could be executed for the crime of a single member.
- While 一族 describes a biological lineage, 一門 is often used for 'clan' in traditional arts like tea ceremony or sumo, where members are linked by a shared master rather than blood.
- Japanese genealogy often uses the term 家系図 (kakeizu) to map the 一族, and these charts can track lineages back over a millennium to prove aristocratic descent.
Examples in context
- 彼は名門の一族の出身です。Kare wa meimon no ichizoku no shusshin desu.He comes from a prestigious clan.
- その一族は代々、医者でした。Sono ichizoku wa daidai, isha deshita.That clan has been doctors for generations.
- 一族の結束はとても強いです。Ichizoku no kessoku wa totemo tsuyoi desu.The clan's unity is very strong.
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are talking about their ancestors.
- 結衣 Yui健太さんのところの一族はどこから来ましたか？Kenta-san no tokoro no ichizoku wa doko kara kimashita ka?Where did your clan come from, Kenta?
- 健太 Kenta私たちの一族は北の方から来ました。Watashitachi no ichizoku wa kita no hou kara kimashita.Our clan came from the north.
- 結衣 Yuiそうなんですね。とても興味深いです。Sou nan desu ne. Totemo kyoumibukai desu.I see. That is very interesting.
- 健太 Kenta結衣さんのところはどうですか？Yui-san no tokoro wa dou desu ka?How about your family, Yui?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clan” translations and entries 一族, 一門, 一家, 氏族, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
