About
The character "祖" is structured with the radical "示" on the left, which denotes matters related to spirits or worship, and the component "且" on the right, which in early contexts represented an ancestral tablet used in rituals, together conveying the core concept of ancestral reverence. Its original meaning focused specifically on lineage forebears, such as clan founders or paternal ancestors, but over time this semantic field broadened to include abstract notions of origin and beginning, as seen in compound words like "祖师" for a founding master or "祖国" for one's homeland. The graphical composition of "示" and "且" has remained the fundamental basis for the character, while its applications have evolved to reflect both familial and conceptual derivatives.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
祖国是我的母亲。
他的祖父非常慈祥。
我们祭拜共同的祖先。
这种手艺是祖传的。
他的祖籍在福建省。
我们永远不能数典忘祖。
他致力于研究祖国医学史。
那位华侨怀着寻根问祖的心愿回到了故乡。