• 祖先そせん — ancestor
• 祖国そこく — homeland
• 先祖せんぞ — ancestors
• 祖母そぼ — grandmother
• 祖父そふ — grandfather
• 開祖かいそ — founder (of a school/tradition)
• 元祖がんそ — originator; pioneer

The left component 礻 (しめすへん) relates to ritual or spirit. The right part 且 once resembled a tray/altar. Together they suggest reverence for those who came before — hence “ancestor” or “originator.”

祖先そせんに 感謝かんしゃする 文化ぶんかがあります。
There is a culture of expressing gratitude to ancestors.

祖国そこくを 離はなれて 暮くらしています。
I live away from my homeland.