HSK 6 · Chinese hanzi

祖

祖 — ancestor

Reading
zǔ
Meaning
ancestor; grandparent
HSK level
HSK 6
Language
Chinese

About this hanzi

祖 is a chinese hanzi character commonly studied at the HSK 6 level. Its primary reading is zǔ and it means ancestor; grandparent. To master it, see it in real Chinese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.

祖 appears in everyday chinese words such as 祖先 (ancestor), 祖国 (homeland, motherland) and 祖传 (handed down from ancestors).

Chinese words containing 祖

Frequently asked questions

What does 祖 mean in Chinese?

祖 means ancestor; grandparent in Chinese. It is one of the HSK 6 hanzi every learner meets at that level.

How is 祖 read?

祖 is read zǔ. Reading it inside real words — 祖先 and 祖国 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.

What level is 祖 — is it HSK 6?

Yes. 祖 is on the official HSK 6 hanzi list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.

How do you use 祖 in a word?

A common word containing 祖 is 祖先 (zǔ xiān) — "ancestor". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.

How do I learn 祖 effectively?

Read it in context. Import any Chinese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 祖 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.

More HSK 6 hanzi

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