noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Refers to a kinship group sharing a common ancestor, often in historical, anthropological, or formal contexts. Can also be used attributively with の.
I am researching ancient clan systems.
He comes from an influential clan.
家族 is the everyday word for a nuclear family or household, while 氏族 is a formal term for a much larger lineage-based group.
民族 means an ethnic group or people sharing culture and language on a national scale, while 氏族 refers to a smaller kinship group tied by common ancestry; the two are easily confused because they share the kanji 族.
clan system; family system
Compound of 氏 (shi, 'family, clan') and 族 (zoku, 'tribe, group'). The reading しぞく is the on'yomi of both characters.