祖 ancestor, pioneer, founder 9 strokes taught in grade 5 old JLPT 2 #1226 in newspapers Readings Onソ Words written with it 祖父 そふ grandfather N4 祖母 そぼ grandmother N4 祖国 そこく homeland 先祖 せんぞ ancestor N2 祖父母 そふぼ grandparents 祖先 そせん ancestor N2 祖 おや founder N4 元祖 がんそ originator 教祖 きょうそ founder of a religious sect 開祖 かいそ (sect) founder 始祖 しそ founder 宗祖 しゅうそ sect founder