祖
ancestor · pioneer · founder
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of altar and moreover. Worshipping at altar.
Symbolism
Ancestor, grandparents, forebears. Represents ancestor.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents respect and memorial for ancestors - ancestor worship is important pillar of Japanese spiritual culture.
Component Breakdown
spirit + 且
Words & Expressions
Words written with 祖
Four-Character Compounds
先祖伝来
せんぞでんらい
inherited; family (heirloom); ancestral
祖先崇拝
そせんすうはい
ancestor worship
祖先伝来
そせんでんらい
hereditary
父祖伝来
ふそでんらい
hereditary; patrimonial; handed down from generation to generation
祖先の霊
そせんのれい
Spirits of ancestors; The souls of forebears
Anime & Manga
魔王学院の不適合者 ～史上最強の魔王の始祖、転生して子孫たちの学校へ通う～
The Misfit of Demon King Academy: History’s Strongest Demon King Reincarnates and Goes to School with His Descendants
A well-known work with 祖 in its Japanese title.
魔道祖师
The Founder of Diabolism
A well-known work with 祖 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
無学祖元
Name contains 祖
Named Wuxue Zuyuan in China, Mugaku Sogen , also known as Bukko Kokushi in Japan, was a prominent Chinese Zen Buddhist monk of the 13th century in…
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“ancestor”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 祖 mean in Japanese?
祖 means ancestor, pioneer, founder.
How do you read 祖?
On'yomi: ソ (SO).
How many strokes does 祖 have?
祖 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 示 (show).
Is 祖 a good kanji for a tattoo?
祖 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means ancestor, pioneer, founder. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:ancestor