Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

祖宗 (そそう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

祖そ宗そう

そ

そ

う

Meanings

1

noun

ancestors

Refers to one's forebears or ancestral lineage. Somewhat formal and literary; in everyday speech, 先祖 (せんぞ) is more common.

彼かれは祖そ宗そうの地ちを訪たずねた。
He visited the land of his ancestors.

Kanji

祖ancestor, pioneer, founder
宗religion, sect, denomination

Similar words

先せん祖ぞ
Common, everyday word for 'ancestors'. 祖宗 is more formal and literary.

Etymology

Composed of 祖 (ancestor) and 宗 (sect, family origin). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound is conventionally associated with ancestral lineage.