Word

祖母 (zǔ mǔ) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

Meaning of 祖母

名 míng noun

grandmother

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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Word breakdown

祖 zǔ — ancestral, grand- (indicating a generation removed)

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.

母 mǔ — mother (indicating the female line)

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 母 mǔ — mother, mom

母 is a component in 3 characters

HSK 6

毒 dú poison; toxic substance that chemically damages body tissues and functions

HSK 7

姆 mǔ nanny; person hired to care for children, the elderly, or manage household affairs, usually female (see "保姆") 拇 mǔ thumb or big toe; the first digit of the hand or foot

母 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order