What does the kanji 祖 mean?

The kanji 祖 (so) means "ancestor, pioneer, founder". It is a JLPT N3 character.

"so" is written with the kanji 祖, meaning "ancestor, pioneer, founder". Its readings are onyomi (Chinese-derived) そ (so). It is a JLPT N3 character.

How do you write the kanji 祖?

Write 祖 ("ancestor") by following the correct stroke order. Use the interactive, step-by-step stroke order animation on this page to practise each stroke in sequence and build muscle memory.

What are the readings of 祖?

祖 has these readings: onyomi (Chinese-derived) そ (so).

祖“ancestor” Kanjiso

JLPT N3

How to write 祖

祖 (ancestor) kanji stroke order diagram with numbered strokes

Meaning and readings

Meaning

ancestor, pioneer, founder

Onyomi (音読み)

そ so

Chinese reading

Kunyomi (訓読み)

—

Japanese reading

Practice 祖 on paper — a printable tracing grid with stroke order

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政

politics, government

議

deliberation, consultation, debate

民

people, nation, subjects

官

bureaucrat, the government, organ

法

method, law, rule, principle, model, system

制

system, law, rule

治

reign, cure, heal

権

authority, power, rights

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