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始祖

shǐzǔ
noun #36,144

Meanings

  1. 1 primogenitor
  2. 2 first ancestor
  3. 3 founder of a school or trade
  4. 4 originator

Examples

黄帝被尊为中华民族的始祖。
Huángdì bèi zūn wéi Zhōnghuá mínzú de shǐzǔ.
The Yellow Emperor is venerated as the primogenitor of the Chinese people.
孔子是儒家的始祖。
Kǒngzǐ shì Rújiā de shǐzǔ.
Confucius is the founder of the Confucian school.

Tips

usage
始祖 = first ancestor, used both literally (clan founder) and figuratively (founder of an art form, school, or industry). Compare 鼻祖 (bízǔ, also 'founder', slightly more colloquial) and 祖师 (zǔshī, founder of a craft or sect).

In Pop Culture

始祖鸟 shǐzǔniǎo
Archaeopteryx / Arc'teryx (brand)
Both the prehistoric bird (transitional fossil between dinosaurs and birds) and the Canadian outdoor-gear brand whose logo is its skeleton.

Stroke Order

始 shǐ
祖 zǔ