属 shǔ class
class; category; type; family; belonging to; family members
How it came to be
A body over a caterpillar with a large eye, in the full form. Something attached to something else and hanging from it: belonging, drawn as being stuck on.
How it is used
- 属 as a verb means "to belong to" - 这个房间属于我们 (zhège fángjiān shǔyú wǒmen) - this room belongs to us; 属于 (shǔyú) is the common two-syllable verb.
- It's also THE word for Chinese zodiac animal: 你属什么? (nǐ shǔ shénme?) "What's your zodiac sign?" - 我属龙 (wǒ shǔ lóng) "I'm a Dragon".
- As a noun it means category/class or kin: 金属 (jīnshǔ) metal, 家属 (jiāshǔ) family member, 下属 (xiàshǔ) subordinate.
- 归属 (guīshǔ) is a more formal/abstract synonym of 属于 used for ownership or jurisdiction questions.
Characters built with 属
Words with 属
- 属于shǔyúto belong toHSK 5
- 亲属qīnshǔkinHSK 6
- 家属jiāshǔfamily memberHSK 6
- 金属jīnshǔmetalHSK 6
- 下属xiàshǔsubordinateHSK 8
- 属性shǔxìngattributeHSK 8
- 属相shǔxiàngcolloquial term for 生肖 the animals associated with the years of a 12-year cycleHSK 8
- 归属guīshǔto belong toHSK 8
- 所属suǒshǔone's affiliationHSK 8
- 附属fùshǔsubsidiaryHSK 9
Example sentences
- 玫瑰属于蔷薇科植物。 Méigui shǔyú qiángwēikē zhíwù.Roses belong to the Rosaceae family.
- 辣椒、洋葱和胡萝卜都属于蔬菜类。 Làjiāo、yángcōng hé húluóbo dōu shǔyú shūcàilèi.Peppers, onions and carrots are all vegetables.