祖宗

zǔzōng

noun HSK 7-9 #21,037

Measure Word

一位祖宗 wèi

Meanings

1 ancestors
2 forefathers
3 ancestry

Characters

ancestor; grandfather

clan; sect; ancestral

Examples

这是祖宗留下来的规矩。

Zhè shì zǔzōng liúxiàlái de guījù.

This is a rule left by our ancestors.

我的祖宗啊！你可别这样做！

Wǒ de zǔzōng a! Nǐ kě bié zhèyàng zuò!

Oh my ancestors! Please don't do that!

Tips

usage

祖宗 can be used as an exclamation (我的祖宗!) expressing exasperation or pleading, similar to 'for heaven's sake!' It is more colloquial and emotional than 祖先.

Stroke Order

祖 zǔ

宗 zōng