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祖
祖 (readings: そ; Japanese kanji) means “ancestor”. It is a Grade 5 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 5 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 祖父母 (grandparents).
What does 祖 mean?
| Kanji | 祖 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | ancestor |
| Readings | そ |
| Grade | Grade 5 (Hard) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 祖
祖 is read そ depending on the word.
Example words with 祖
| Example | 祖父母 (grandparents) |
|---|
Practice writing 祖 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14