祖先(そせん)

そせん
noun
ancestor, forefather
1. ancestor, forefather, progenitor
A person from whom one is descended, often referring to distant ancestors. More formal than 先祖(せんぞ) and often used in scientific or historical contexts.
人類(じんるい)の祖先(そせん)はアフリカ}で{誕生(たんじょう)した。
The ancestors of humanity originated in Africa.
祖先(そせん)から受(う)け継(つ)いだ伝統(でんとう)を守(まも)る。
We preserve traditions inherited from our ancestors.
日本人(にほんじん)の祖先(そせん)について研究(けんきゅう)している。
I am researching the ancestors of the Japanese people.
鳥(とり)の祖先(そせん)は恐竜(きょうりゅう)だと言(い)われている。
It is said that the ancestors of birds were dinosaurs.
この民族(みんぞく)の祖先(そせん)がどこから来(き)たのかは、まだ解明(かいめい)されていない。
Where the ancestors of this ethnic group came from has not yet been determined.

USAGE: 祖先(そせん) is more formal and literary than 先祖(せんぞ). It's commonly used in:

  • Scientific contexts (evolution, anthropology)
  • Historical discussions
  • Formal/literary writing

CONTRAST:

  • 祖先(そせん) - formal, used for distant/collective ancestors, scientific contexts
  • 先祖(せんぞ) - everyday, used for family ancestors, religious contexts

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 祖先(そせん)崇拝(すうはい) (ancestor worship)
  • 共通(きょうつう)祖先(そせん) (common ancestor)
  • 祖先(そせん)から受(う)け継(つ)ぐ (to inherit from ancestors)

Related Words

Synonym: 先祖(せんぞ) (ancestor (everyday))
core
Added 2026.1.13 20:35 · Revised 2026.3.3 9:40
04000/04047_sosen