How to Say "Ancestors" in Japanese

先祖

senzo[sẽ̞nd͡zo̞]

The English phrase "ancestors" is translated into Japanese as 先祖 (senzo).

The term 先祖 is used to refer to one's biological or familial lineage rather than a general group of people who lived before.

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of the kanji 先 meaning 'before' or 'ahead' and 祖 meaning 'ancestor' or 'origin'.

During the お盆 festival, some people create 精霊馬 or 'spirit horses' made from cucumbers and eggplants to help the 先祖 travel quickly.
In Japan, many families maintain a 仏壇 or Buddhist altar to house the tablets of their 先祖, allowing the ancestors to reside within the home.
While 先祖 refers to lineage, the term ご先祖様 adds the honorific prefix ご and suffix 様 to show deep reverence and respect.

私たちの先祖は百五十年前この国にたどり着きました。
Our ancestors arrived in this country 150 years ago.
Tatoeba #1038391 by bunbuku, translation #1038323 by Eldad
彼らの着物は私達の先祖のものによく似ている。
Their clothes are quite like those of our ancestors.
Tatoeba #98442 by mookeee, translation #305260 by Luornu
私の先祖は偉大な人々です。
My ancestors were great people.
先人の知恵に感謝します。
I am grateful for the wisdom of our ancestors.
我が家は先祖代々続く伝統を守っています。
Our family keeps up the traditions passed down through generations.
先祖を大切にしましょう。
senzo o taisetsu ni shimashou.
Let's respect our ancestors.

Kenta and Himari are visiting an old family temple.

健太 Kenta

ここは先祖が眠る場所ですね。
Koko wa senzo ga nemuru basho desu ne.
This is the place where our ancestors sleep.
陽葵 Himari

とても静かな場所です。
Totemo shizuka na basho desu.
It is a very quiet place.
健太 Kenta

陽葵さんは、先祖のことを調べたことがありますか？
Himari-san wa, senzo no koto o shirabeta koto ga arimasu ka?
Himari, have you ever researched your ancestors?
陽葵 Himari

いいえ、まだありません。
Iie, mada arimasen.
No, not yet.

Sources

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