Common Meanings
1
zōng宗
Ancestors, forefathers, or a venerated lineage/clan, often in the context of family worship and ancestral temples.
每逢佳节，我们都会回家祭拜祖宗。
Every festive occasion, we go home to worship our ancestors.
clan; family; lineage (especially in traditional contexts)
他回家探望宗亲。
He returned home to visit his kinsfolk.
A sect, school, or branch, particularly in religion or philosophy.
禅宗是中国佛教的一个重要宗派。
Zen Buddhism is an important sect of Chinese Buddhism.
Main purpose or intention; a tenet.
我们公司的宗旨是客户至上。
Our company's core principle is customer first.
To revere; to admire and follow (principles, methods, or a person's teachings); to respectfully adopt.
这位学者宗古人的治学方法，严谨求实
This scholar reveres the ancient scholars' methods of study, being rigorous and pragmatic.
A master or figure widely revered and emulated by many, similar to a grand master.
他的绘画技艺精湛，被尊为一代宗师
His painting skills are exquisite, and he is revered as a grand master of his generation.
Used as a measure word, typically for items, cases, or matters, similar to 'a batch' or 'an item'.
这宗交易谈了很久才敲定。
This transaction was discussed for a long time before it was finalized.