noun
lineage; pedigree; family background
Refers to a family's social standing based on ancestry, often with implications of prestige or exclusivity. Can be used in historical or modern contexts.
彼は門閥のある家に生まれた。
He was born into a family of good lineage.
門閥を重んじる社会では、家柄が重視される。
In a society that values pedigree, family background is emphasized.
Compound of 門 (family, clan) and 閥 (clique, faction). The term originally referred to powerful family groups in historical Japan, especially in political contexts.