先祖(せんぞ)

せんぞ
noun
ancestor, forebear
1. ancestor, forebear, forefather
A person from whom one is descended, typically more remote than a grandparent. Often used to refer to deceased family members of past generations.
先祖(せんぞ)の墓(はか)を参(まい)った。
I visited my ancestors' grave.
この土地(とち)は先祖(せんぞ)代々(だいだい)受(う)け継(つ)がれてきた。
This land has been passed down through generations of ancestors.
先祖代々 = for generations, from generation to generation
先祖(せんぞ)を敬(うやま)うことは大切(たいせつ)だ。
It is important to honor one's ancestors.
お盆(おぼん)には先祖(せんぞ)の霊(れい)を迎(むか)える。
During Obon, we welcome the spirits of our ancestors.
彼(かれ)の先祖(せんぞ)は江戸(えど)時代(じだい)にこの村(むら)に移(うつ)り住(す)んだそうだ。
Apparently his ancestors moved to this village during the Edo period.

CULTURAL NOTE: Honoring ancestors (先祖(せんぞ)供養(くよう)) is an important part of Japanese culture. Key occasions include:

  • お盆(おぼん) (Obon - festival for ancestral spirits)
  • お彼岸(おひがん) (equinox periods for grave visits)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 先祖(せんぞ)代々(だいだい) (for generations)
  • 先祖(せんぞ)の墓(はか) (ancestors' grave)
  • 先祖(せんぞ)供養(くよう) (memorial services for ancestors)
  • 先祖(せんぞ)を祀(まつ)る (to enshrine/honor ancestors)

NEAR-SYNONYM: 祖先(そせん) is more formal/literary and often used for more distant ancestors or in scientific contexts (human evolution).

Related Words

Synonym: 祖先(そせん) (ancestor (formal))
core
Added 2026.1.13 20:35 · Revised 2026.3.3 9:40
04000/04040_senzo