English–Chinese
“ancestor” in Chinese
Chinese
Pronunciation
Pinyinzǔ xiān
Example
你的祖先来自哪里？nǐ de zǔ xiān lái zì ná lǐ
Where did your ancestors come from?
How to say “ancestor” in Chinese
“Ancestor” in Chinese is 祖先 (zǔ xiān).
The family line viewed backward toward the people from whom later generations descend.
Example sentences with 祖先
每年清明节，人们会去扫墓祭拜祖先。měi nián qīng míng jié rén men huì qù sǎo mù jì bài zǔ xiān
Every year during the Qingming Festival, people go to clean graves and worship their ancestors.
Tips for using 祖先
- This word is useful when discussing family background or roots, whereas ordinary conversation usually names close relatives directly rather than using a broad ancestral term.