How to say "lineage" in Japanese

• 系けいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)Covers lineage in an abstract, classificatory sense: a line or group to which something belongs, such as a lineage of products, schools, or styles. Rarely the word for a family's bloodline.
  Windows系けいＯＳではアドミニストレーターアカウントがルートに相当そうとうする。↗

  With Windows OS systems 'administrator account' corresponds to 'root'.
• 血統けっとうCommon
  nounThe word for lineage as bloodline or pedigree: hereditary descent through a family. Typical contexts include breeding animals and discussing a family's distinguished or pure bloodline.
  その作家さっかはギリシャの王家おうけの血統けっとうを引ひいていた。↗

  The writer was descended from the Greek royal family.
• 血筋ちすじCommon
  nounAlso means lineage as bloodline or descent, with a slightly softer nuance of family stock or strain. Used when talking about what family a person comes from or what blood runs in a line.
  血筋ちすじは争あらそえない。↗

  Blood is thicker than water.
• 系譜けいふCommon
  nounCovers lineage in the sense of a genealogy or family tree: a recorded line of descent, whether of a family, an artist's tradition, or a succession of ideas. Often suggests a documented or traced line.
• 素性すじょうCommon
  nounCovers lineage in the sense of a person's birth, origins, or parentage. Used chiefly when discussing whether someone's background is known, respectable, or questionable, rather than tracing descent itself.

Choose 血統 or 血筋 for bloodline and family descent, 系譜 for a genealogy or family tree, 素性 for a person's origins or background, and 系 for abstract groupings or lineages of things.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 系けいsystem
• 血統けっとうlineage
• 血筋ちすじlineage
• 系譜けいふgenealogy
• 素性すじょうbirth
• 家筋いえすじlineage
• 家柄いえがらsocial standing of a family
• 由緒ゆいしょhistory
• 氏うじfamily name
• 一統いっとうlineage
• 門閥もんばつlineage
• リネージlineage
• 筋縄すじなわlineage
• 門地もんちdegree
• 世系せいけいdescent
• 氏素性うじすじょう(a person's) family background
• 裔えいdescendant
• 家いえlineage
• たねpaternal blood
• 血ちblood
• 系統けいとうlineage
• 毛並みけなみlineage
• 出自しゅつじdescent
• 筋目すじめlineage
• ブリードbreeding
• 筋すじlineage