祖

A phono-semantic compound:

示 (“altar, to show”) provides the semantic element, indicating relation to ritual or worship;

且 (cha, “furthermore, again”) provides the phonetic element.

In Chinese and Korean culture, strongly tied to ancestor veneration and rituals (祭祀).

Common compounds:

祖上 (조상) = “ancestors, forefathers”

祖先 (조선) = “ancestors”

祖國 (조국) = “ancestral homeland, motherland”

祖宗 (조종) = “forefathers, clan ancestors”

In Korean royal titles, 祖 (jo) appears in temple names (묘호, 廟號), given posthumously to kings who founded dynasties or accomplished great feats, e.g.:

태조 (太祖) = “Great Ancestor” (founder of a dynasty)

세조 (世祖) = “Ancestor of the World/Generation”

성조 (成祖), etc.