Tribal is the adjective from tribe. In its plain sense it just describes things belonging to a tribe: tribal land, tribal leaders, tribal languages, tribal art. In news writing you meet 'tribal conflict' or 'tribal areas'.

Tribal is the adjective from tribeTribal是tribe的形容詞。In its plain sense在它單純的意思裡 it just describes things belonging to a tribe它只是描述屬於一個部落的東西 tribal land, tribal leaders, tribal languages, tribal arttribal land、tribal leaders、tribal languages、tribal art。In news writing在新聞寫作裡 you meet 'tribal conflict' or 'tribal areas'你會遇到'tribal conflict'或'tribal areas'。

But you should know that this word sits on uncomfortable ground. For a long time Europeans used 'tribe' for other people's societies while calling their own 'nations', and many people now feel the word makes a group sound primitive. In Taiwan, when talking about 原住民 in English, safer and more respectful choices are Indigenous peoples, Indigenous communities, or the specific name — Amis, Atayal, Paiwan. In the United States and Canada, though, 'tribal' is the official legal word — tribal government, tribal council — and Native nations use it about themselves, so it is correct there. So the same word can be neutral, offensive, or legally exact depending on where you are.

But you should know要知道的是 that this word sits on uncomfortable ground這個字站在一塊不太舒服的地方。For a long time長久以來 Europeans used 'tribe' for other people's societies歐洲人用'tribe'來稱呼別人的社會 while calling their own 'nations'卻把自己的社會叫做'nations' and many people now feel the word makes a group sound primitive現在很多人覺得這個字讓一群人聽起來很原始。In Taiwan在台灣 when talking about 原住民 in English用英文談原住民的時候 safer and more respectful choices are Indigenous peoples, Indigenous communities比較安全、比較尊重的說法是Indigenous peoples、Indigenous communities or the specific name — Amis, Atayal, Paiwan或直接用族名，像Amis、Atayal、Paiwan。In the United States and Canada, though不過在美國和加拿大 'tribal' is the official legal word'tribal'是正式的法律用詞 tribal government, tribal counciltribal government、tribal council and Native nations use it about themselves而且原住民族群自己也這樣使用 so it is correct there所以在那裡這樣用是對的。So the same word can be neutral, offensive, or legally exact所以同一個字可以是中性的、冒犯的，或法律上精確的 depending on where you are要看你在哪個地方。

There is also a very common modern meaning that has nothing to do with real tribes: tribal means people sticking to their own group and refusing to listen to the other side. 'Politics has become tribal' means people vote for their team, not for the argument. This use is everywhere in newspapers now, and it is always a criticism.

There is also a very common modern meaning另外還有一個非常常見的現代意思 that has nothing to do with real tribes跟真正的部落一點關係都沒有 tribal means people sticking to their own group and refusing to listen to the other sidetribal是指一群人只挺自己這邊，不願意聽對方說什麼。'Politics has become tribal' means people vote for their team, not for the argument'Politics has become tribal'的意思是大家是在為自己的陣營投票，不是為道理投票。This use is everywhere in newspapers now這個用法現在到處都能在報紙上看到 and it is always a criticism而且永遠是一種批評。

And in design, 'tribal' describes a style of bold black pattern — tribal tattoo, tribal print — which is a fashion label, not an accurate word about any real people.

And in design而在設計領域 'tribal' describes a style of bold black pattern'tribal'是形容一種大膽的黑色圖案風格 tribal tattoo, tribal printtribal tattoo、tribal print which is a fashion label, not an accurate word about any real people這只是一個時尚標籤，不是在準確描述任何真實的族群。