祖

Meaning

Ancestor · antepasado

Readings

• On (音読み): ソ
• Kun (訓読み): —

Example words

• 祖父（そふ）— grandfather (one's own)
• 祖母（そぼ）— grandmother (one's own)
• 先祖（せんぞ）— ancestors

Structure

Radical 示 written as 礻 here (しめす・しめすへん · Altar, show) · 9 strokes · school grade 5

Watch out

祖父 / 祖母 are for your OWN grandparents when talking to outsiders; おじいさん / おばあさん for other people's, or when addressing them. Spanish abuelo makes no such split — same in-group/out-group logic as 父 vs お父さん. Altar (礻) + 且. Compare 組 (group, thread radical).