祖宗

zǔ zōng

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Noun Rare

Save to list

Definitions

1. ancestor
2. forebear

Stop forgetting what you study.
Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Start Free Trial $9.99 / year

Lifetime for $19.99 Try the 30-second demo

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 子孙 zǐ sūn 子孙 zǐ sūn offspring 后代，与‘祖宗’相对: offspring

Related words

1 item

• 后代 hòu dài 后代 hòu dài 泛指子孙后代: 泛指子孙后代

Synonyms

2 items

• 祖先 zǔ xiān 祖先 zǔ xiān ancestor 指家族或民族的上代，但‘祖宗’更口语化且含敬意: ancestor
• 先人 xiān rén 先人 xiān rén ancestors 泛指已故的长辈，与‘祖宗’近义但更书面: ancestors

Usage notes

Collocations

‘老祖宗’常用于指地位尊崇的祖先，带有感情色彩；普通指祖先时‘祖宗’单独使用，无需加‘老’。

Example Sentences

1 shown

我们每年都要祭拜 祖宗 。

We worship our ancestors every year.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 祖宗

• 小祖宗 小祖宗 xiǎo zǔ zōng: brat

Child Words of 祖宗

• 宗 宗 zōng: school
• 祖 祖 zǔ: ancestor