祖辈 (zǔ bèi) literally combines 祖 (zǔ), meaning 'ancestor' or 'grandparent', and 辈 (bèi), meaning 'generation' or 'peer group'. Together, it refers specifically to the generation of one’s grandparents — that is, the parents of one’s own parents. It does not include great-grandparents (those are 曾祖辈) nor parents’ cousins or other extended relatives; it denotes the direct ancestral generation two steps above oneself.

This term is commonly used in family discussions, genealogical contexts, and formal writing about heritage, tradition, or intergenerational values. Unlike the more colloquial term 爷爷奶奶 (yéye nǎinai) or 外公外婆 (wàigōng wàipó), 祖辈 carries a respectful, slightly formal tone and emphasizes generational position rather than individual relationships. It appears frequently in essays on filial piety, historical narratives, and sociological studies of Chinese family structure.