祖 Stroke Order — How to Write 祖
祖 is written in 10 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 礻, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
祖 Radical and Character Components
祖 is a phono-semantic compound: 礻 (spirit) carries the meaning, while 且 indicates the sound.
Radical: 礻 + 5 more strokes
祖 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- zǔ
Meanings of 祖 in Chinese
1
zǔ祖
Ancestral, referring to a generation preceding one's parents, such as grandparents.
我的祖母今年八十岁了，身体依然很健康。
My grandmother is eighty years old this year, and her health is still very good.
Refers to people of the same generation as one's grandfather, such as one's maternal grandfather or maternal grandmother.
我这个周末会去外祖母家吃饭。
I will go to my maternal grandmother's house for dinner this weekend.
Ancestor; ancestral; relating to forefathers or heritage.
他决心努力工作，继承祖业并将其发扬光大。
He is determined to work hard, inherit the ancestral business, and make it flourish.
Original; earliest; progenitor or founder.
这位科学家被誉为现代物理学的鼻祖。
This scientist is hailed as the founder of modern physics.
When pronounced zǔ, '祖' refers to the founder, originator, or patriarch of a school, craft, or discipline, as in '祖师' (founding master).
这位老艺人被尊为木雕艺术的祖师。
This old artisan is revered as the founding master of wood carving art.
To offer sacrifices to the road god when setting out on a journey, extended to mean to see someone off or to hold a farewell banquet (祖饯).
朋友远行前，我们特意设祖饯为他送行。
Before our friend's long journey, we specially hosted a farewell banquet to see him off.
Common Words and Phrases with 祖
1
Ancestors; forefathers.
我们应该尊重和学习我们祖辈的智慧，因为那是宝贵的经验积累。
We should respect and learn from the wisdom of our ancestors, as it is a valuable accumulation of experience.
2
To take the lead; to be the first to act, signifying diligence and a pioneering spirit.
她在学习上总是祖鞭，提前预习，所以成绩一直很好。
She always takes the initiative in her studies, preparing in advance, so her grades have always been excellent.
3
ancestral estate
他继承了祖产，并在上面修建了一座美丽的家园。
He inherited the ancestral property and built a beautiful home on it.
4
Zǔ Chōngzhī (429–500) was a prominent Chinese mathematician and astronomer during the Southern Dynasties, best known for accurately calculating pi to the seventh decimal place and his advancements in calendar systems and mechanical engineering.
祖冲之在数学和天文学方面取得了许多杰出的成就。
Zu Chongzhi made many outstanding achievements in mathematics and astronomy.
5
handed down from one's ancestors or in the family from generation to generation
我们家有一把祖传的茶壶，已经用了好几代了
Our family has an heirloom teapot that has been used for several generations.
6
ancestral grave
他每年都会回到老家，清扫祖坟，以示对先人的敬意。
He returns to his hometown every year to clean the ancestral graves, showing respect for his ancestors.
7
grandfather
我的祖父是一位慈祥的老人，他经常给我讲有趣的故事。
My grandfather is a kind old man, he often tells me interesting stories.
8
motherland; native country; fatherland
我热爱我的祖国，它拥有悠久的历史和灿烂的文化。
I love my homeland; it has a long history and brilliant culture.
9
Ancestral home; the place of origin of one's ancestors.
我的祖籍在江南的一个美丽水乡。
My ancestral home is in a beautiful water town in Jiangnan.
10
ancestral home or residence
每逢春节，他都会回到家族的祖居，与亲戚们团聚。
Every Spring Festival, he returns to his family's ancestral home to reunite with relatives.
11
Deceased grandfather; ancestors.
他在祖考的遗物中找到了一本泛黄的日记。
He found a yellowed diary among his deceased grandfather's belongings.
12
The burning of books and burying of scholars alive ordered by Emperor Qin Shi Huang (known as "Zǔlóng" - Ancestral Dragon). It refers to a historical act of destruction of culture and intellectual suppression.
在数字化时代，数据安全尤为重要，我们必须警惕人为或意外的“祖龙一炬”，以免珍贵的历史数据和文化资料瞬间化为乌有。
In the digital age, data security is particularly crucial; we must be vigilant against any intentional or accidental "Zǔ Lóng Yī Jù" (a destructive act akin to the burning of books), lest precious historical data and cultural materials vanish in an instant.
13
Zulü (祖率) refers to the approximation of pi (π) calculated by the ancient Chinese mathematician Zu Chongzhi during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, named in his honor. He determined pi to be between 3.1415926 and 3.1415927, and also provided the fractional approximations 22/7 and 355/113.
祖冲之的祖率是古代数学史上的一个重要里程碑。
Zu Chongzhi's Zulü is a significant milestone in the history of ancient mathematics.
14
paternal grandmother; father's mother
我的祖母今年八十岁了，身体依然很健康。
My grandmother is eighty years old this year, and her health is still very good.
15
Emerald is a precious gemstone known for its deep green color, composed of elements like iron and chromium.
她戴着一条镶嵌着闪亮祖母绿的项链，在阳光下熠熠生辉
She was wearing a necklace adorned with sparkling emeralds, gleaming in the sunlight.
16
ancestors; forefathers
我们家的酿酒手艺是从祖上传下来的。
Our family's winemaking skill has been passed down from our ancestors.
More words with 祖
- jì祭zǔ祖Worship ancestors, Ancestor worship
- bó伯zǔ祖father's uncle
- léi嫘zǔ祖Leizu, The Silkworm Mother
- shū叔zǔ祖great-uncle, grandfather's younger brother
- bó伯zǔ祖mǔ母father's aunt
- zēng曾zǔ祖mǔ母great-grandmother
- shū叔zǔ祖mǔ母great-aunt
- zēng曾zǔ祖great-grandfather
- shí始zǔ祖Progenitor, First ancestor
- fǎn返zǔ祖xiàn现xiàng象atavism
- páo刨zǔ祖fén坟to dig up ancestral graves, to desecrate ancestral tombs
- yuè岳zǔ祖fù父Grandfather-in-law, wife's paternal grandfather
- yuè岳zǔ祖mǔ母Wife's grandmother
- xiān先zǔ祖ancestor, forefather
- zǔ祖shī师patriarch, founder
- zǔ祖wū屋Ancestral home, Family home
- zǔ祖yè业family business, ancestral property
- zǔ祖zong宗ancestor, forefather
- gāo高zǔ祖Gaozu, Founding emperor
- zǔ祖xiān先ancestor, forefather
Idioms with 祖
- zǔ祖chuán传mì秘fāng方ancestral secret family recipe
- zǔ祖zōng宗chéng成fǎ法ancestral established practices
- zǔ祖zōng宗jiā家fǎ法ancestral family rules
- zǔ祖zǔ祖bèi辈bèi辈for generations
- guāng光zōng宗yào耀zǔ祖bring honor and glory to ancestors
- kāi开shān山bí鼻zǔ祖founding father or originator
- kāi开shān山lǎo老zǔ祖founding patriarch or pioneer
- kāi开shān山shǐ始zǔ祖pioneer or founder
- kāi开shān山zǔ祖shī师founder of a school, business, or movement
- liè列zǔ祖liè列zōng宗all one's ancestors
- rèn认zǔ祖guī归zōng宗return to one's ancestral clan
- róng荣zōng宗yào耀zǔ祖bring glory to ancestors
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Open the tool →Questions about 祖
What does 祖 mean in Chinese?
祖 (zǔ) means “Ancestral” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 祖?
祖 is pronounced zǔ in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 祖 have?
祖 has 10 strokes.
How do you write 祖?
祖 is written in 10 strokes, starting from the radical 礻. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 祖?
The radical of 祖 is 礻, and 祖 is a phono-semantic compound.