属
belong, genus, subordinate official, affiliated
Readings
On'yomi
- ゾク
- ショク
Kun'yomi
- さかん
- つく
- やから
Nanori
- さっか
- つき
Meaning
属 centers on being attached to a larger whole: belonging to a group, being a subordinate or affiliated member, or falling under a category such as a biological genus.
Most common words using 属
20 of 414- 所属しょぞくN1
belonging to (a group, organization, etc.); affiliation (with); being attached to; being under the control of; serving (in the military, congress, etc.)
- 属性ぞくせい
attribute; property
- 金属きんぞくN2
metal
- 付属ふぞくN2
being attached (to); being affiliated (to); belonging (to); going with
- 属するぞくするN2
to belong to; to come under; to be affiliated with; to be subject to
- 専属せんぞく
exclusive; attached to; specialist
- 配属はいぞくN1
assignment (of a person to somewhere); attachment (of a person to another unit, organization, etc.)
- 属ぞく
genus
- 無所属むしょぞく
independent (esp. in politics); non-partisan
- 帰属きぞく
belonging; ascription; attribution; imputation; possession; jurisdiction
- 従属じゅうぞくN1
subordination; dependency
- 貴金属ききんぞく
precious metal
- 属すぞくす
to belong to; to come under; to be affiliated with; to be subject to
- 直属ちょくぞく
direct control; direct supervision
- 眷属けんぞく
(one's) family; dependents; household
- 転属てんぞく
changing assignments
- 隷属れいぞく
subordination; servitude; servility; vassalage; slavery
- 属国ぞっこく
vassal state; vassal nation; dependency
- 軍属ぐんぞく
civilian in military employ
- 重金属じゅうきんぞくN2
heavy metals
Study
Etymology
属 is the modern simplified form of 屬. The older form combines 尸 (body) with 蜀, which likely contributed the sound and the idea of attachment or connection. The modern inner component 禹 is a simplification.
Meaning mnemonic
The outer 尸 looks like a flag or banner, and the inner 禹 resembles a creature attached to it. Picture a subordinate official following the banner of their group, always belonging to that affiliation.
Reading mnemonic
For ゾク, imagine a zookeeper who belongs to the zoo: zoo -> ゾク, and the zookeeper is a subordinate official of the animal kingdom.