zou2祖
Jyutpingzou2
Yalejóu
Definition
Ancestor; forefather.
neutralfamilypeople
How it's used
Functions primarily as a bound morpheme in compound words rather than as a standalone noun in daily speech. When referring to ancestors in a general or respectful sense, speakers prefer using 先人 or 祖先. It appears most frequently in formal contexts like ancestral records, clan history, or specific terminology such as 祖屋 or 祖籍.
Examples
Their family went back to their hometown to pay respects to their ancestors.
Do you know where your ancestral home is?
Related words
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
