家世 jiāshì family background
How to remember 家世: 家 home + 世 world = family background.
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How it is used
- One's family background / lineage - the standing and history of the family one comes from - 家世显赫 (jiāshì xiǎnhè) from an illustrious family.
- Emphasizes ancestry and social status across generations, somewhat formal/literary.
- Contrast 家境 (jiājìng), which is specifically the family's current financial situation, not its pedigree.