Chinese word

贵族

Pronunciation

Pinyinguì zú

Meaning

  • nounaristocrat

Example

贵族穿着很讲究。guì zú chuān zhe hěn jiǎng jiū

Aristocrats dress very elegantly.

Illustration for 贵族 (aristocrat)

More examples

在很多国家，贵族阶级长期掌握政治权力。zài hěn duō guó jiā guì zú jiē jí cháng qī zhǎng wò zhèng zhì quán lì

In many countries, the aristocracy held political power for a long time.

Core concept

The upper social layer marked by distance from ordinary people and by rank, privilege, or influence.

Common phrases

  • 贵族阶级guì zú jiē jí

    aristocracy

  • 贵族特权guì zú tè quán

    aristocratic privilege

Similar words

精英jīng yīng: A small group with outstanding ability and status that holds important responsibilities.
上流社会shàng liú shè huì: The wealthy or well-educated part of society with an elevated lifestyle and social standing.

Definition in Chinese

指在社会中享有显著特权、影响力或尊崇地位的个人或群体，既可指传统世袭贵族，也可泛指社会精英。zhǐ zài shè huì zhōng xiáng yǒu xiǎn zhù tè quán yíng xiǎng lì huò zūn chóng dì wèi de gè rén huò qún tǐ jì kě zhǐ chuán tǒng shì xí guì zú yě kě fàn zhǐ shè huì jīng yīng

Word origin

贵 (guì, "noble") + 族 (zú, "group") presents high-ranking people as a distinct social group, allowing the term to reach beyond formal hereditary titles.

Usage tips

  • The word does not simply identify wealth; status, privilege, or social prestige remains central even when no formal title is involved.

Opposites

Related words

  • 贵族阶级guì zú jiē jíaristocracynoun
  • 贵族化guì zú huàbecome aristocraticverb

Word lists with this word