家族
jiāzú · HSK 7
race
👪 家 (home) + 族 (clan) = the clan of one home: a family line
家 means home or household; 族 means clan or tribe. Together they mark a whole family line or kin-group. The 族 character carries 方 (banner) over 矢 (arrow): a clan once gathered under one war-banner.
家 — roof 宀 + pig 豕
Originally a pictograph of a pig under a roof, since domesticated pigs were kept in or under the home in ancient China. Over time the meaning broadened from 'household' to 'family,' and by extension 'home' or a specialist (as in 专家, 'expert').
族 — banner 㫃 + arrow 矢
族 originally depicted arrows 矢 gathered under a banner 㫃, representing a military unit or clan rallying under one flag. From this image of people united under a common standard, the meaning extended to family, tribe, and ethnic group.