老祖宗 (lǎo zǔ zōng) — ancestor(s); forefather(s) (with a reverential tone)

Definition

Literally 'old ancestor' — a reverent, honorific way to refer to one's forebears, more elevated than the plain 祖先. Often used in cultural or traditional contexts (e.g. customs, heritage, family history).

noun
ancestor(s)forefather(s) (with a reverential tone)
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 老祖宗。
    Zhè shì lǎo zǔ zōng liú xià lái de chuán tǒng.
    This is a tradition passed down by our ancestors.
  • 老祖宗。
    Wǒ men jiā de lǎo zǔ zōng shì cóng nán fāng bān lái de.
    Our family's ancestors moved here from the south.
  • ，老祖宗。
    Guò nián shí, dà jiā dōu huì jì bài lǎo zǔ zōng.
    During the New Year, everyone pays respects to their ancestors.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

老lǎoold/ancient
祖宗ancestors
祖zǔancestor宗zōnglineage
联合Side by side

The 'old/ancient' sense of 老 joins with 祖宗 ('ancestors') to form a reverent word for forefathers.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 老 combines 人 (man), 毛 (hair), and 匕 (cane), showing a man with long hair leaning on a cane.

Open 老 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
示示shì
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě祖zǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

祖 was made by adding 示 to 且, and 且 gives the sound.

Open 祖 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 示示shìspirit tablet

宗 pairs 宀, a house, with 示, a spirit tablet, to show an ancestral shrine or temple.

Open 宗 →

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