Chinese word

祖宗

Pronunciation

Pinyinzǔ zōng

Meaning

  • nounancestors

Example

孩子们要记住祖宗的故事。hái zi men yào jì zhù zǔ zōng de gù shì

The children should remember the stories of their ancestors.

Illustration for 祖宗 (ancestors)

More examples

传统节日里，人们会缅怀祖宗。chuán tǒng jié rì lǐ rén men huì miǎn huái zǔ zōng

During traditional festivals, people remember their ancestors.

Core concept

The earlier generations at the foundation of a family, remembered through its lineage and customs.

Common phrases

  • 祭拜祖宗jì bài zǔ zōng

    worship ancestors

  • 供奉祖宗gòng fèng zǔ zōng

    make offerings to ancestors

  • 缅怀祖宗miǎn huái zǔ zōng

    remember ancestors

Similar words

祖先zǔ xiān: Deceased blood relatives from the distant past who belong to one's family line.
先祖xiān zǔ: Earlier generations of people belonging to a family or clan.

Definition in Chinese

指被后代纪念、供奉并被视为家族根源的已故先人。zhǐ bèi hòu dài jì niàn gòng fèng bìng bèi shì wéi jiā zú gēn yuán de yǐ gù xiān rén

Word origin

祖 (zǔ, "ancestor") + 宗 (zōng, "ancestral lineage") combines the idea of an early forebear with the line that continues from that forebear.

Usage tips

  • Unlike an English singular noun for one family member, this Chinese noun normally gathers several generations into one family group.

Other meanings

  • forefathersnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word