Japanese word

元祖

Pronunciation

Romajiganso

Meaning

  • nounoriginator

Example

彼はこの料理の元祖です。kare wa ko no ryō ri no gan so de su

He is the originator of this dish.

Illustration for 元祖 (originator)

More examples

誰がこの料理の元祖なのか、今もはっきりしません。dare ga ko no ryō ri no gan so na no ka ima mo ha kki ri shi ma se n

It is still unclear who the originator of this dish is.

Core concept

It presents a person as the starting point from which a particular product, practice, or tradition develops.

Common phrases

  • 元祖とされるgan so to sa re ru

    be considered the originator

  • 元祖の店gan so no mise

    the original shop

  • 元祖を名乗るgan so o na no ru

    claim to be the originator

Similar words

創始者sōshisha: A person who starts a practice, movement, or organization and brings it into existence.
発案者hatsuansha: A person who first proposes an idea or plan, whether or not they carry it out.
考案者kōansha: A person who devises a new product, method, or design.
開祖kaiso: A person who establishes a religious school, teaching, or tradition.

Definition in Japanese

ある事柄を初めて行い、その分野の先駆けとなった人。a ru koto gara o haji me te okona i so no bun ya no saki ga ke to na tta hito

Word origin

元 (gan, "origin") combines with 祖 (so, "ancestor") to form 元祖 (ganso), whose components suggest the founding source of a product or practice.

Usage tips

  • 元祖 (ganso) appears in Japanese restaurant and product names as a branding term that highlights a claimed first origin rather than simply an old version.

Other meanings

  • originalnoun
  • pioneernoun

Opposites

  • 模倣者mohōshaimitatornoun

Word lists with this word