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祖宗 (zǔ zong) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

祖宗 (zǔ zong) is a Chinese word: ancestors. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 祖宗

名 míng noun

ancestors

我们要尊敬祖宗。

wǒ men yào zūn jìng zǔ zong

We must respect our ancestors.

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Word breakdown

祖 zǔ — ancestor, forefather

Words with this character (6)
  • 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.

  • 5 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.

Show more (+1)
  • 6 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.

宗 zōng / zong — clan, ancestral line

Contextual pronunciation: zong

Words with this character (4)
  • 1 大宗 dà zōng — bulk; large-scale; staple HSK 7
    • 大 large; major (indicates scale or importance)
    • 宗 category; kind (refers to a type or classification)
    Example

    大宗采购可以享受折扣。

    dà zōng cǎi gòu kě yǐ xiǎng shòu zhé kòu

    Bulk purchases can enjoy discounts.

  • 2 宗教 zōng jiào — religion HSK 7
    • 宗 sect, ancestral lineage, school of thought
    • 教 teaching, doctrine, instruction
    Example

    每个人都有选择宗教的自由。

    měi gè rén dōu yǒu xuǎn zé zōng jiào de zì yóu

    Everyone has the freedom to choose their religion.

  • 3 宗旨 zōng zhǐ — purpose HSK 7
    • 宗 main, fundamental
    • 旨 intention, aim
    Example

    我们公司的宗旨是为客户提供优质服务。

    wǒ men gōng sī de zōng zhǐ shì wèi kè hù tí gōng yōu zhì fú wù

    Our company's purpose is to provide quality service to customers.

  • 4 正宗 zhèng zōng — authentic HSK 7
    • 正 correct, proper, orthodox
    • 宗 tradition, school, lineage
    Example

    这家餐厅的川菜很正宗。

    zhè jiā cān tīng de chuān cài hěn zhèng zōng

    This restaurant's Sichuan cuisine is very authentic.

Structure & writing
1 祖 zǔ — grandparent; parent's parent

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

consists of

1.1 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
1.2 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

2 宗 zōng / zong — ancestor
宗 is a component in 5 characters
HSK 5
综 zōng to summarize; to bring together
HSK 6
崇 chóng tall; lofty 棕 zōng brown color (like palm fiber) 粽 zòng sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves 踪 zōng footprint; track; trace left by a person or animal

consists of

2.1 宀 mián — roof/house radical, shelter
宀 is a component in 48 characters
HSK 1
字 zì written character; word 它 tā third-person pronoun for non-human things; it 宜 yí suitable, appropriate 客 kè guest; visitor (opposite of 主) 家 jiā family; household as a social unit based on marriage and kinship
HSK 2
完 wán complete; whole; intact 室 shì room; chamber
HSK 3
安 ān safe, secure; opposite of '危' 定 dìng calm; stable 实 shí solid, filled completely with no gaps (opposite of "虚") 害 hài harm; disadvantage (opposite of 利、益) 容 róng to contain; to hold; to have capacity for
Show more HSK 3 characters (+2)
宾 bīn guest (opposite of "主" host) 演 yǎn to evolve; to change gradually
HSK 4
寄 jì to entrust; to place one's trust in 富 fù wealthy; rich in resources (opposite of "贫" and "穷") 察 chá to observe closely; to investigate; to examine
HSK 5
守 shǒu to defend, guard (opposite of 攻) 宝 bǎo treasure; precious thing 宠 chǒng to dote on; to indulge with excessive affection (often from a superior to an inferior) 宣 xuān to announce publicly; to spread, disseminate 宽 kuān wide; broad (opposite of narrow)
Show more HSK 5 characters (+2)
宿 sù to lodge; to spend the night; to sleep overnight 寓 yù to reside temporarily; to lodge
HSK 6
宅 zhái residence; dwelling 宏 hóng grand; vast 官 guān government or military official of a certain rank 审 shěn detailed; thorough 宫 gōng palace (residence of emperor, empress, crown prince, etc.)
Show more HSK 6 characters (+6)
宴 yàn to host a banquet; to feast together 宵 xiāo night 寂 jì quiet, silent 寞 mò quiet and desolate; lonely 灾 zāi disaster caused by nature or human activity 牢 láo (lit.) pen or enclosure for livestock or wild animals
HSK 7
奥 ào southwest corner of a house in ancient times; inner recess of a room 宁 níng peaceful; tranquil 宇 yǔ eaves; by extension, a house or building 宗 zōng ancestor 宙 zhòu all time; eternity (past and present)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+8)
宪 xiàn (lit.) laws and decrees 宰 zǎi to oversee; to preside over 寐 mèi (lit.) to fall asleep; to sleep 寝 qǐn to sleep 寡 guǎ widowed (of a woman) 寥 liáo sparse; few 穴 xué cave; pit or hole in the ground or a structure 贮 zhù to store; to stockpile
2.2 示 shì — to show; to indicate; to display
示 is a component in 9 characters
HSK 2
票 piào a ticket, note, or slip used as a voucher or credential
HSK 4
标 biāo treetop; tip of a branch 禁 jìn to forbid; to prohibit 际 jì border; edge; boundary area
HSK 5
奈 nài how; in what way; what to do about 款 kuǎn sincere; hospitable
HSK 7
宗 zōng ancestor 祭 jì to pay tribute to the deceased 蒜 suàn garlic (herbaceous plant with white flowers; young leaves and flower stalks are edible)

Stroke order