民族
mínzú
The English word "ethnicity" is translated into Chinese as 民族 (mínzú).
民族 is used to refer to an ethnic group. In mainland China, it is the standard term used to refer to the various recognized ethnic groups within the country.
Meaning: ethnic group (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 民 (mín), meaning people and 族 (zú), meaning clan or race/group.
Which one should you use?
While 民族 can mean 'ethnicity', it is also the standard term for 'nationality' in the context of ethnic identity, whereas 国籍 (guójí) is used specifically for legal citizenship/nationality.
How do you pronounce it?
mínzú
Did you know?
- The term 民族 was first recorded in a 5th-century essay by Gu Huan, later preserved in the 6th-century Book of Southern Qi.
- In mainland China, the state officially recognizes 56 different 民族, with the Han people making up the vast majority.
- The character 族 in 民族 carries a deep connotation of 'clan' or 'lineage', linking modern ethnic identity to ancient ancestral groupings.
Examples in context
- 他是汉族 (Tā shì Hàn zú)He is Han Chinese
- 我的朋友是日本人 (Wǒ de péngyǒu shì Rìběnrén)My friend is Japanese
- 中国有很多个民族。Zhōngguó yǒu hěnduō gè mínzú.There are many ethnic groups in China.
- 他是少数民族。Tā shì shǎoshù mínzú.He belongs to an ethnic minority.
- 这个节日是属于哪个民族的？Zhège jiérì shì shǔyú nǎge mínzú de?Which ethnic group does this festival belong to?
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing different cultures at a museum.
- 俊杰 Junjie你知道这个民族的传统服装吗？Nǐ zhīdào zhège mínzú de chuántǒng fúzhuāng ma?Do you know the traditional clothing of this ethnic group?
- 雨婷 Yuting我知道，非常漂亮。Wǒ zhīdào, fēicháng piàoliang.I know, it is very beautiful.
- 俊杰 Junjie雨婷，你对其他民族感兴趣吗？Yǔtíng, nǐ duì qítā mínzú gǎn xìngqù ma?Yuting, are you interested in other ethnic groups?
- 雨婷 Yuting是的，我想多了解一些。Shì de, wǒ xiǎng duō liǎojiě yīxiē.Yes, I want to learn more.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ethnicity” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 民族, CC BY-SA 4.0.
