返祖

fǎnzǔ

verb

Meanings

1 to exhibit atavism
2 to revert to ancestral traits (biology)

Characters

Examples

HSK 4

全身长毛被认为是返祖。

Quánshēn zhǎng máo bèi rènwéi shì fǎnzǔ.

Hair growing all over the body is considered atavism.

HSK 7-9

这种基因变异是一种返祖现象。

Zhèzhǒng jīyīn biànyì shì yī zhǒng fǎnzǔ xiànxiàng.

This genetic mutation is a form of atavism.

Tips

memory

Literally 'return to ancestor'. 返 (fǎn, return) + 祖 (zǔ, ancestor) = the offspring 'returns' biologically to a long-lost ancestral form. Almost always seen as 返祖现象 (fǎnzǔ xiànxiàng, atavistic phenomenon).

Stroke Order

返 fǎn

祖 zǔ