祖先

zǔ xiān

CL 位 wèi

HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 6 Noun Uncommon

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Definitions

1. ancestor
2. forebears

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 后代 hòu dài 后代 hòu dài descendant; progeny 后代相对于祖先: descendant; progeny

Register variants

1 item

• 祖宗 zǔ zōng 祖宗 zǔ zōng ancestor 较口语化，同指祖先: ancestor

Related words

1 item

• 前辈 qián bèi 前辈 qián bèi senior 更泛指前辈，不限于有血缘: senior

Synonyms

1 item

• 先人 xiān rén 先人 xiān rén ancestors 指前辈、祖宗: ancestors

Usage notes

Common mistakes

“祖先”多用于书面或正式场合，日常口语中常换用“祖宗”或“先人”。

Cultural notes

在祭祀语境中，“祖先”特指家族中已故的先辈，带有尊崇和纪念色彩。

Example Sentences

4 shown

每年清明节，我们都会去祭奠 祖先 。

Every Qingming Festival, we go to offer sacrifices to our ancestors.

人们用水果祭祀 祖先 。

People offer sacrifices to their ancestors with fruit.

他们每年都祭 祖先 。

They offer sacrifices to their ancestors every year.

清明节我们去祭拜 祖先 。

During Qingming Festival, we go to pay respects to our ancestors.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 祖先

• 直系祖先 直系祖先 zhí xì zǔ xiān: direct ancestor

Child Words of 祖先

• 先 先 xiān: early
• 祖 祖 zǔ: ancestor