祖先

zǔ xiān

位 wèi

HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 6 Noun Uncommon

Definitions

1. ancestor
2. forebears

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

后代

hòu dài

后代相对于祖先

Register variants

1 item

祖宗

zǔ zōng

ancestor

较口语化，同指祖先

Related words

1 item

前辈

qián bèi

senior

更泛指前辈，不限于有血缘

Synonyms

1 item

先人

xiān rén

ancestors

指前辈、祖宗

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

zhí xì zǔ xiān

direct ancestor

Child Words of 祖先

early

ancestor