‘同族’ literally means ‘same clan’ or ‘same lineage,’ formed by the characters 同 (tóng, ‘same’) and 族 (zú, ‘clan,’ ‘ethnic group,’ or ‘family line’). While it can refer to human kinship groups—especially in historical or anthropological contexts—it is most frequently used in biology and zoology to describe animals belonging to the same taxonomic family, such as lions and tigers (both members of the cat family, Felidae). In this sense, ‘同族’ emphasizes shared ancestry, physical traits, and evolutionary descent.

The term carries a formal, often academic or scientific tone and appears commonly in textbooks, nature documentaries, and conservation discussions. It is rarely used in casual speech about people—where terms like ‘亲戚’ (qīnqi, ‘relatives’) or ‘同乡’ (tóngxiāng, ‘fellow townspeople’) are more natural. Its usage underscores biological relatedness rather than cultural or social affiliation.