Learn a Chinese Character - 宗 (zōng) - Clan, Ancestor

1. Character Basics (汉字基本信息)

Radical: 宀 (roof radical, indicates a place related to home or clan)

Stroke Count: 8

Character Decomposition: 宀 + 示 (The roof "宀" represents a place, and "示" is related to divination and sacrifice, together meaning a place for ancestor worship.)

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation (发音)

Pinyin: zōng (first tone)

3. Meaning (含义)

宗 can mean clan, lineage, ancestor, or the main principle. (The character "宗" often refers to a group of people with the same family name and common ancestors, or it can represent the core idea or principle.)

4. Common Words (常用词汇)

• 宗教 (zōng jiào) - religion
• 祖宗 (zǔ zōng) - ancestors
• 宗旨 (zōng zhǐ) - aim, purpose

5. Grammar & Usage (语法与用法)

宗 is often used as a noun. It can be used in compound words related to clan, religion, or principle. (“宗”通常作为名词使用，常出现在与宗族、宗教、宗旨等相关的复合词中。)

6. Cultural Background (文化背景)

In Chinese culture, the concept of clan and ancestor worship is very important. The character 宗 reflects this cultural tradition. (在中国文化中，宗族观念和祖先崇拜非常重要，“宗”这个字体现了这一文化传统。)

7. Example Sentence (例句)

8. Memory Tips (记忆技巧)

想象一个房子（宀）里供奉着祖先的牌位（示），这就是“宗”的含义。(Imagine a house ("宀") where the memorial tablets of ancestors ("示") are enshrined. This is the meaning of "宗".)