About
The character 祖 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the radical 礻 (spirit/altar) on the left with the phonetic component 且. The radical 礻 places it within the domain of spiritual or ritual practice. The component 且 itself originally depicted a ceremonial vessel or symbol of lineage, so together the parts evoke the ritual veneration of ancestors. Accordingly, 祖 primarily means ancestor or forefather, and it is commonly used today in words like "grandparent" or to denote the distant origins of a family line.
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。