HSK 5, nr, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #11683, Hard
祖
Zǔ
ancestor
HSK 5, nr, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #11683, Hard
祖
Zǔ
forefather
HSK 5, nr, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #11683, Hard
祖
Zǔ
grandparents
HSK 5, nr, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #11683, Hard
祖
Zǔ
ancestor, forefather; grandfather; surname
HSK 5, nr, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #11683, Hard
Zǔ(Zu3) T3
1ancestor
2forefather
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March 24, 2026
祖Zǔ(Zu3)
The character 祖 (zǔ) primarily refers to ancestors or forefathers, emphasizing familial lineage and heritage. It is commonly used in contexts discussing family history, genealogy, or respect for one's elders, particularly in Chinese culture where ancestry is highly valued.
Strokes9Radical礻Frequency#11683DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of ancestors is crucial, with many families honoring their 祖先 (ancestors) during festivals such as Qingming Jie, where families visit graves and pay respects.
Memory Tip
Imagine a wise old man (representing your grandfather) sitting on a throne made of family trees, symbolizing your ancestors. The character 祖 looks like a person standing with arms raised, representing respect and reverence for those who came before us.
Meanings of 祖
Zǔ(Zu3)
1ancestor
2forefather
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 祖
祖Simplified
9Strokes
礻Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#11683Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5
Podcast: 祖
Podcast: 祖
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AI Study Notes for 祖
Quick Contrast
宗 (zōng) refers to a clan or sect, emphasizing a broader group or lineage, while 祖 (zǔ) specifically denotes ancestors or forefathers.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a wise old man (representing your grandfather) sitting on a throne made of family trees, symbolizing your ancestors. The character 祖 looks like a person standing with arms raised, representing respect and reverence for those who came before us.
Usage Notes
While 祖 can refer to a grandfather or ancestors in general, learners should avoid using it in casual contexts where 'grandfather' specifically is needed. It is more formal and associated with respect for lineage. Be cautious with the pronunciation, as misplacing the tone could lead to confusion with different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Although not part of the HSK vocabulary list, 祖 is beneficial for understanding family-related terms. Students should focus on related words like 祖父 (grandfather) and 祖母 (grandmother) to build a familial vocabulary foundation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of ancestors is crucial, with many families honoring their 祖先 (ancestors) during festivals such as Qingming Jie, where families visit graves and pay respects.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 祖 with 祖母 (grandmother), using it incorrectly to refer to female ancestors. The correct term for grandmother is 祖母, while 祖 should be used for ancestors in a broader sense.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 祖
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Grammar Patterns of 祖
祖 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我曾____父曾是这儿的头面人物。
My great-grandfather was a person of some importance here.
Example Sentences for 祖 (10)
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1
我曾祖父曾是这儿的头面人物。
wǒ zēng zǔ fù zēng shì zhè ér de tóu miàn rén wù。
My great-grandfather was a person of some importance here.
2
他天生擅长交际：他的祖先曾是封建领主。
tā tiān shēng shàn cháng jiāo jì： ： tā de zǔ xiān zēng shì fēng jiàn lǐng。
Diplomacy was in his blood: his ancestors had been feudal lords.
3
保罗·马祖尔斯基担任司仪，他简直把人笑坏了。
bǎo luó· · mǎ zǔ ěr sī jī dān rèn sī， yí ， tā jiǎn zhí bǎ rén xiào。
Paul Mazursky was Master of Ceremonies, and he was pretty hysterical.
4
人们可能会翻着白眼谈论那些溺爱儿孙、样样都要插手的祖母。
rén mén kě néng huì fān zháo bái yǎn tán lùn nà xiē nì ài ér sūn、 、 yàng yàng dū yào chā shǒu de zǔ。
People may roll their eyes and talk about overprotective, interfering grandmothers.
5
她的中国朋友们说这位女皇是他们值得敬仰的祖先。
tā de zhōng guó péng yǒu mén shuō zhè wèi nǚ huáng shì tā mén zhí dé jìng yǎng de zǔ xiān。
Her Chinese friends referred to the Empress as their venerable ancestor.
"Gimme a break, kid! You know how much those things cost?"
10
我们屏住呼吸听祖母讲述她的游历故事。
wǒ mén píng zhù hū xī tīng zǔ mǔ jiǎng shù tā de yóu lì gù shì。
We listened with bated breath to Grandma's stories of her travels.
Cultural Notes for 祖
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of ancestors is crucial, with many families honoring their 祖先 (ancestors) during festivals such as Qingming Jie, where families visit graves and pay respects.
Word Family of 祖
Words Containing This Character20
祖国zǔguómotherland祖國
祖母zǔmǔfather's mother
祖父zǔfùfather's father
祖Zǔancestor
祖先zǔxiānancestor
佛祖Buddha
祖宗zǔzōngancestor
祖父母paternal grandparents
曾祖父father's father's father
祖传zǔchuánpassed on from ancestors祖傳
外祖母mother's mother
祖籍zǔjíancestral hometown
外祖父maternal grandfather (i.e. mother's father)
始祖primogenitor
祭祖to offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
太祖Great Ancestor (posthumous title, e.g. for the founder of a dynasty)
先祖ancestry
曾祖母father's father's mother
祖辈ancestors祖輩
祖师founder (of a craft, religious sect etc)祖師
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 祖国 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 祖
祖 refers to ancestors in general, while 祖父 specifically means grandfather.
Yes, but it is more appropriate in formal contexts. For specific ancestors, use terms like 祖母 for grandmother.
It's often used in discussions about family, heritage, or history, but may not come up in casual, everyday conversation.
