Readings: ソ (Onyomi), (Kunyomi)
Meaning: ancestor, pioneer, founder, progenitor
The kanji 祖 is a phono-semantic compound. It combines the radical 示 (しめす), meaning “altar” or “show,” and the phonetic component 且 (ショ), which originally depicted a stacked offering table or a male ancestor/progenitor. Together, it represents a male ancestor or progenitor honored at an altar, reflecting the concept of ancestral worship and lineage.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 祖 has 10 strokes. Begin with the left radical 示 (しめすへん), drawing the two dots, followed by the horizontal, vertical, and a final dot. Then move to the right component 且, starting with the vertical stroke, then the three horizontal strokes from top to bottom, and finally the last vertical stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 示 (しめすへん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 5 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ソ (So)
Common Words Using 祖
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 祖父 | そふ | grandfather |
| 祖母 | そぼ | grandmother |
| 先祖 | せんぞ | ancestor |
| 祖先 | そせん | ancestor, forefathers |
| 祖国 | そこく | fatherland, homeland |
| 開祖 | かいそ | founder (of a sect, school, etc.) |
| 元祖 | がんそ | originator, founder, progenitor (often used for original products) |
| 祖語 | そご | proto-language |
| 祖父母 | そふぼ | grandparents |
| 祖堂 | そどう | ancestral hall |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 私の祖父はとても優しい人です。
Kana: わたしのそふはとてもやさしいひとです。
Romaji: Watashi no sofu wa totemo yasashii hito desu.
English: My grandfather is a very kind person.
Japanese: 祖母は毎日庭で花を育てています。
Kana: そぼはまいにちにはで はなをそだてています。
Romaji: Sobo wa mainichi niwa de hana o sodateteimasu.
English: My grandmother grows flowers in the garden every day.
Japanese: 彼らは先祖代々この土地に住んでいます。
Kana: かれらはせんぞだいだいこのとちにすんでいます。
Romaji: Karera wa senzo daidai kono tochi ni sundeimasu.
English: They have lived on this land for generations (ancestors’ generations).
Japanese: 日本には美しい自然と豊かな歴史があります。祖先を敬う文化も特徴的です。
Kana: にほんにはうつくしいしぜんとゆたかなれきしがあります。そせんをうやまうぶんかもとくちょうてきです。
Romaji: Nihon ni wa utsukushii shizen to yutakana rekishi ga arimasu. Sosen o uyamau bunka mo tokuchouteki desu.
English: Japan has beautiful nature and rich history. The culture of respecting ancestors is also characteristic.
Japanese: 祖国のために戦う兵士たち。
Kana: そこくのためにたたかうへいしたち。
Romaji: Sokoku no tame ni tatakau heishi-tachi.
English: Soldiers fighting for their homeland.
Japanese: この流派の開祖は有名な武道家です。
Kana: このりゅうはのかいそはゆうめいなぶどうかです。
Romaji: Kono ryuuha no kaiso wa yuumei na budouka desu.
English: The founder of this school is a famous martial artist.
Japanese: このラーメン屋が元祖です。
Kana: このラーメンやががんそです。
Romaji: Kono ramen-ya ga ganso desu.
English: This ramen shop is the original one.
Japanese: 印欧祖語は多くの言語のルーツです。
Kana: いんおうそごはおおくのげんごのルーツです。
Romaji: In’ou sogo wa ooku no gengo no ruutsu desu.
English: Proto-Indo-European is the root of many languages.
Japanese: 今年の夏は祖父母の家へ行く予定です。
Kana: ことしのなつはそふぼのいえへいくよていです。
Romaji: Kotoshi no natsu wa sofubo no ie e iku yotei desu.
English: This summer, I plan to go to my grandparents’ house.
Japanese: 彼らは祖堂で先祖の魂を祀る。
Kana: かれらはそどうでせんぞのたましいをまつる。
Romaji: Karera wa sodou de senzo no tamashii o matsura.
English: They enshrine the souls of their ancestors in the ancestral hall.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.