Kanji
祖
N3
9 strokes
Grade 5
freq #1226
ancestor, pioneer, founder
On'yomi (音読み)
ソ
On'yomi compounds (音読み)
祖国
そこく
homeland; motherland
祖父
そふ
grandfather
祖母
そぼ
grandmother
先祖
せんぞ
ancestor; forefather
祖父母
そふぼ
grandparents
祖先
そせん
ancestor
祖
そ
ancestor; forefather
元祖
がんそ
originator; pioneer
教祖
きょうそ
founder of a religious sect
開祖
かいそ
(sect) founder; apostle
Kun'yomi words (訓読み)
お祖父さん
おじいさん
grandfather
お祖母さん
おばあさん
grandmother
Example sentences
彼女（かのじょ）が最後（さいご）に祖国（そこく）へ帰（かえ）ってから１０年（とし）以上（いじょう）になる。
It is over ten years since she last went back to her country.
彼（かれ）らは祖国（そこく）を守（まも）った。
They defended their country.
彼（かれ）は祖父（そふ）に生き写（いきうつ）しだ。
He is the picture of his grandfather.
彼（かれ）は祖父（そふ）似（に）だ。
He resembles his grandfather.