Character

祖

zǔ HSK 6

祖 zǔ HSK 6

1. grandparent; parent's parent
2. ancestor; forebear of a clan or people
3. founder of a discipline or school of thought
4. a surname

Words using 祖 as zǔ (7)

1 祖先 zǔ xiān — ancestor HSK 6
- 祖 ancestor, founding generation
- 先 former, preceding, those who came before
Example

这些文物是我们祖先留下的。

zhè xiē wén wù shì wǒ men zǔ xiān liú xià de

These artifacts were left behind by our ancestors.
2 祖国 zǔ guó — motherland HSK 6
- 祖 ancestral, of one's forebears
- 国 country, nation
Example

我爱我的祖国。

wǒ ài wǒ de zǔ guó

I love my motherland.
3 祖传 zǔ chuán — passed down from ancestors HSK 7
- 祖 ancestors, forefathers
- 传 to pass down, to transmit
Example

这是我家祖传的秘方。

zhè shì wǒ jiā zǔ chuán de mì fāng

This is my family's secret recipe passed down from ancestors.
4 祖宗 zǔ zong — ancestors HSK 7
- 祖 ancestor, forefather
- 宗 clan, ancestral line
Example

我们要尊敬祖宗。

wǒ men yào zūn jìng zǔ zong

We must respect our ancestors.
5 祖母 zǔ mǔ — grandmother HSK 7
- 祖 ancestral, grand- (indicating a generation removed)
- 母 mother (indicating the female line)
Example

祖母很喜欢给我们讲故事。

zǔ mǔ hěn xǐ huan gěi wǒ men jiǎng gù shi

Grandmother loves to tell us stories.

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6 祖父 zǔ fù — grandfather HSK 7
- 祖 ancestral, indicating the grandparent generation
- 父 father, indicating the paternal line
Example

祖父经常给我讲故事。

zǔ fù jīng cháng gěi wǒ jiǎng gù shi

Grandfather often tells me stories.
7 祖籍 zǔ jí — ancestral home HSK 7
- 祖 ancestor, ancestral
- 籍 native place, place of registration
Example

虽然她在北京出生，但祖籍是广东。

suī rán tā zài Běi jīng chū shēng dàn zǔ jí shì Guǎng dōng

Although she was born in Beijing, her ancestral home is Guangdong.

Structure & writing

祖 zǔ — grandparent; parent's parent

祖 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1 礻 shì — spirit/altar radical, relating to worship and the divine

礻 is a component in 13 characters

HSK 1

视 shì to look; to see

HSK 3

礼 lǐ ceremony or etiquette formed by social morals and customs

HSK 4

社 shè earth deity, and the place, day, and rites for worshipping it in ancient times 祝 zhù to wish; to express good wishes 福 fú happiness; good fortune; blessing (opposite of 祸)

HSK 5

神 shén god; deity; creator and ruler of all things 祸 huò misfortune; disaster (opposite of 福)

HSK 6

祖 zǔ grandparent; parent's parent 祥 xiáng auspicious; fortunate

HSK 7

祀 sì sacrifice; ritual offering to gods or ancestors 祈 qí to pray to gods for blessings; to pray 祷 dǎo to pray (to heaven or a deity for help) 禅 chán abbreviated transliteration of Sanskrit 'dhyāna', referring to Buddhist meditation

2 且 qiě — (lit.) even (used with '况' to form a correlative)

且 is a component in 12 characters

HSK 1

姐 jiě older sister 宜 yí suitable, appropriate 租 zū to rent, pay to use something for an agreed period

HSK 3

助 zhù to help, to assist

HSK 4

粗 cū thick in diameter (opposite of 细) 组 zǔ to combine, to form

HSK 5

县 xiàn county (administrative unit under a province, autonomous region, municipality, or prefecture) 阻 zǔ to block; to obstruct

HSK 6

祖 zǔ grandparent; parent's parent

HSK 7

叠 dié to stack in layers; to pile up 咀 jǔ to chew and savour slowly in the mouth 沮 jǔ to stop; to obstruct

Stroke order