古 — Old, Ancient

Meaning

The kanji 古 (ko, furu.i) primarily conveys the meaning of 'old' or 'ancient.' This character is fundamental to describing the age of objects, people, or concepts in Japanese. Its visual form hints at its origins. The kanji 古 is formed by combining the radical 十 (juu), meaning 'ten,' at the top, and 口 (kuchi), meaning 'mouth,' at the bottom. This combination can be interpreted as a 'mouth that speaks of ten generations' or 'many mouths speaking of the distant past.' It evokes the sense of something having existed for a very long time, passed down through countless stories and experiences. This etymology strongly links the kanji's visual form to its core meaning of antiquity and long-standing existence. The kanji 古 has a relatively simple structure, consisting of 5 strokes, making it one of the earlier kanji learned by Japanese students, corresponding to a Grade 2 level of complexity.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

The primary On'yomi reading for 古 is コ (KO). This reading comes from Chinese and is often used in compound words where kanji combine to form new meanings. Learning how it combines with other kanji is key to expanding your vocabulary.

• 古代こだい (kodai) — ancient times, antiquity. This term refers to historical periods far in the past.
• 中古ちゅうこ (chūko) — used, second-hand. You'll often see this in '中古車' (chūkosha), meaning 'used car.'
• 古典こてん (koten) — classic (book, work), classical literature. This refers to works that are old but still highly regarded.

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

The Kun'yomi readings for 古 are ふる.い (furu.i), ふる

• (furu-), and いにしえ (inishie). These readings are native Japanese and are typically used when the kanji stands alone or is followed by okurigana (hiragana suffixes).

• 古いふるい (furui) — old, aged, ancient. This is a very common adjective to describe something that is old, like an old house or an old friend.

• 古びるふるびる (furubiru) — to get old, to age, to wear out. This verb describes the process of something becoming old or worn.

• 古里ふるさと (furusato) — hometown, birthplace, old home. This term carries a nostalgic feeling for one's place of origin.

• 古いにしえ (inishie) — antiquity, ancient times. This reading is more poetic and refers to the distant past or ancient legends.

Common Words & Compounds

The kanji 古 appears in numerous common words and compounds, reflecting its wide application in Japanese. These examples show the many contexts where 'old' or 'ancient' can be expressed.

• Time-Related:

• 古代こだい (kodai) — ancient times

• 古来こらい (korai) — from ancient times, traditionally

• 古典的こてんてき (kotenteki) — classical

• 中古ちゅうこ (chūko) — second-hand, used
• 古本ふるほん (furuhon) — old book, used book
• 古着ふるぎ (furugi) — old clothes, used clothing
• 古民家こみんか (kominka) — old private house (traditional Japanese house)

• 古老ころう (korō) — old person, elder
• 古風こふう (kofū) — old-fashioned, archaic
• 古事記こじき (kojiki) — 'Records of Ancient Matters' (Japan's oldest historical record)

• 古いふるい (furui) — old (adjective)
• 古びるふるびる (furubiru) — to grow old, to wear out

Example Sentences

Related Kanji

• 金 — Gold, Money, Metal (Kanji N5)
• 午 — Noon, Midday (Kanji N5)
• 今 — Now, Present (Kanji N5)
• 毎 — Every, Each (Kanji N5)
• 年 — Year, Age (Kanji N5)
• 時 — Time, Hour (Kanji N5)

Memory Tip

Imagine a tombstone or an ancient monument. The top part of 古 looks like a cross or the number ten (十). The bottom part is a mouth (口). So, you can think of it as 'a mouth (口) speaking of things from ten (十) generations ago,' or 'telling stories from a very long time ago.' This image easily links to the idea of something old or ancient, as it implies a long history passed down through many generations. The simplicity of the shape also makes it easy to remember: something old is simple and has stood the test of time, just like the clear lines of this kanji.