Ancestor in Japanese
"ancestor" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
3 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "ancestor". The most common choice is shown first.
祖View details →
Top pick
ancestor, pioneer, founder
Reading: so
9 strokes
Where it comes from
Composed of altar and moreover. Worshipping at altar.
What it carries
Ancestor, grandparents, forebears. Represents ancestor.
Related kanji for "ancestor"
先Details →霊Details →
ancestor
sen
Composed of '之' (advance) and '儿' (person). Going ahead of others.
ancestor
rei · mysterious, spiritual
Combines 'rain' (雨) with 'shaman' (巫), representing priestesses with divine power to bring rain. Means soul and spirit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for ancestor?
The most common kanji for "ancestor" is 祖, read as so. It means ancestor, pioneer, founder. Related kanji: 先 (ancestor), 霊 (ancestor).
How many strokes does 祖 have?
祖 has 9 strokes.