Zoku
/ˈzoʊkuː/noun
A Japanese term meaning a clan, group, tribe, or subculture, also used in English compounds for distinctive youth subcultures.
Did you know?In Japanese subculture names such as bōsōzoku, zoku identifies a self-conscious social tribe rather than merely a casual group.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
族
“A lineage, clan, or group sharing descent”
Classical Chinese
Chinese
族 (zú)
“A clan, family line, ethnic group, or social category”
Ancient Japan
Japanese
族 (ぞく, zoku)
“A clan, family group, faction, or social grouping, adopted through Sino-Japanese vocabulary”
20th Century
Japanese
ゾク (zoku)
“A subculture, gang, or youth group, especially in labels for distinctive social tribes”
Modern English
English
zoku
“A Japanese-derived term for a clan, group, or subculture, often appearing in names such as bōsōzoku”