民族

みんぞく

people, race

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Understanding 民族 (mínzú)

The word 民族 refers to an ethnic group or nationality, emphasizing a community sharing common cultural, linguistic, or ancestral traits. It is often used in contexts discussing diversity within a country or the identity of a people.

Usage and Nuance

民族 is commonly used to talk about ethnic groups within a nation, especially in countries like China with many recognized ethnic minorities. It highlights cultural heritage and social identity rather than just legal nationality.

Common Collocations

  • 民族文化 (mínzú wénhuà): ethnic culture, referring to the unique traditions and customs of an ethnic group.
  • 民族团结 (mínzú tuánjié): ethnic unity, often used in political or social contexts to stress harmony among different groups.
  • 民族 (shǎoshù mínzú): minority ethnic groups, referring to smaller ethnic populations within a country.

Important Notes

When using 民族, it is important to distinguish it from 国籍 (guójí), which means legal nationality or citizenship. 民族 focuses more on ethnic identity and cultural background. Avoid confusing 民族 with 种族 (zhǒngzú), which emphasizes race more biologically or socially.

This word is formal and often appears in academic, governmental, or media contexts discussing ethnicity and cultural diversity.

Example Sentences

China has fifty-six ethnic groups, each with its own culture and language.

Ethnic unity is an important foundation for national stability.

He studied the traditional clothing and customs of minority ethnic groups.