JLPT N3 · Japanese kanji
祖 — ancestor
- Reading
- ソ
- Meaning
- ancestor; pioneer; founder
- JLPT level
- N3
- Language
- Japanese
About this kanji
祖 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N3 level. Its primary reading is ソ and it means ancestor; pioneer; founder. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
祖 appears in everyday japanese words such as 先祖 (ancestor), 祖先 (ancestor) and 祖母 (grandmother).
Japanese words containing 祖
Frequently asked questions
What does 祖 mean in Japanese?
祖 means ancestor; pioneer; founder in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N3 kanji every learner meets at that level.
How is 祖 read?
祖 is read ソ. Reading it inside real words — 先祖 and 祖先 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 祖 — is it JLPT N3?
Yes. 祖 is on the official JLPT N3 kanji 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 先祖 (せんぞ) — "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 Japanese 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 JLPT N3 kanji
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