zou2 zik6祖籍
Jyutpingzou2 zik6
Yalejóu jihk
Definition
Ancestral home; the place where one's ancestors originally lived, usually a town or a village.
neutralfamilypeople
How it's used
Ancestral home refers to the place where one's paternal lineage originated, often tied to specific village or county records. It is a concept deeply rooted in traditional family identity and clan culture, frequently appearing in formal documents or when discussing family history. While it sounds slightly formal, it is the standard term used when asking someone about their roots.
Examples
Where is your family's ancestral home?
My ancestral home is in Guangdong, but I was born in Hong Kong.
Related words
Common phrases
ancestral place
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with birthplace or current residence. It specifically refers to the ancestral origin of the family line, which may be several generations removed from where the speaker currently lives.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
