宗 (zōng) - Ancestor, clan, lineage & sect, school (of thought)

宗Tone 1

zōng ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 宀

志

宗 · zōng

Ancestor, clan, lineage;

sect, school (of thought);

principal aim, purpose;

to revere, honor.

Ancestor, clan, lineagesect, school (of thought)principal aim, purpose

Usage highlights

AncestorClanSect, schoolAim, purposeReligionOrthodox

Synonyms

  • 祖— ancestor, forefather
  • 族— clan, tribe
  • 派— sect, school

Antonyms

  • 末— end, tip (antonym to 'root/origin' sense)
  • 支— branch (antonym to 'main/principal' sense)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He belongs to the Zhang clan (张宗).
  • Buddhism is a major religion (佛教宗派).
  • We must respect our ancestors (祖宗).
  • The main purpose (宗旨) is clear.

Collocations

  • Ancestor(祖宗)
  • Clan(宗族)
  • Sect, school(宗派)
  • Aim, purpose(宗旨)
  • Religion(宗教)
  • Orthodox(正宗)

Idioms

  • Pass on the family line(传宗接代)
  • Recognize one's ancestry(认祖归宗)
  • The orthodox lineage(正宗嫡传)
  • Open up a new school of thought(开宗明义)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Central to Confucian family values, emphasizing ancestral veneration and lineage continuity.
  • In Buddhism and Daoism, denotes a sect or school tracing its teachings to a founder or core doctrine.
  • Historically, the 'ancestral temple' (宗庙) was a key institution for state and family rituals.

FAQ