COMPONENTS & ETYMOLOGY
How 祖 is built
Traditional etymology note: 礻 (spirit) suggests the meaning, while 且 suggests the pronunciation.
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How to Write 祖 (zǔ) — Chinese Character Stroke Order, Meaning & Practice Sheet
ancestor
zǔTone 3 (Dipping)Let your pitch fall, then rise.
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STROKE BY STROKE
Static stroke diagrams
Follow all 9 strokes in the correct order.
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StrokeSheetCharacter Writing Worksheet
zǔ
祖
ancestor
Common words
zǔ guó
祖国
motherland
zǔ xiān
祖先
ancestors; forebears; (biology) ancestral species; ancient species from which present-day species evolved
zǔ chuán
祖传
passed on from ancestors; handed down from generation to generation
zǔ fù
祖父
father's father; paternal grandfather
zǔ jí
祖籍
ancestral hometown; original domicile (and civil registration)
zǔ mǔ
祖母
father's mother; paternal grandmother
Follow the stroke order, then write it on your own.
祖
祖
祖
祖
祖
祖
祖
祖
LEARNING TIP
Remember 祖
Say “zǔ” aloud as you replay the animation. Then hide the model and write the 9 strokes from memory. Short, repeated practice builds a stronger visual and motor connection.
Practice on CanvasWORDS WITH 祖
Common words and phrases
zǔ guó
motherland
zǔ xiān
ancestors; forebears; (biology) ancestral species; ancient species from which present-day species evolved
zǔ chuán
passed on from ancestors; handed down from generation to generation
zǔ fù
father's father; paternal grandfather
zǔ jí
ancestral hometown; original domicile (and civil registration)
zǔ mǔ
father's mother; paternal grandmother
IN CONTEXT
Example sentences
这个字是“祖”。
Zhège zì shì “zǔ”.
This character is “祖”.
我正在学习“祖”字。
Wǒ zhèngzài xuéxí “zǔ” zì.
I am learning the character “祖”.
请写一遍“祖”。
Qǐng xiě yí biàn “zǔ”.
Please write “祖” once.
Frequently asked questions
How many strokes are in 祖?
祖 is written with 9 strokes.
What does 祖 (zǔ) mean?
祖 (zǔ) means ancestor.
What is the radical of 祖?
The radical of 祖 is 礻, associated with Not yet classified.