古 (gǔ) — ancient; old (from the distant past)
Definition
古 means 'ancient, from the distant past' — used for things hundreds of years old (古文化, 古书). It refers to time depth, unlike 老/旧 which describe wear or age in people and objects.
adjective
ancientold (from the distant past)
Easily confused
- 占zhànlook-aliketo occupy, to take up (space, time, or a position)
- 股gǔsound-alike(classifier) for long winding things (rope, river, strand)
- 右yòulook-alikeright side; right (direction)
- 鼓gǔsound-alike(noun) drum
- 害hàilook-alike(verb) to harm, to cause trouble to
- 告gàolook-aliketo sue, to file a lawsuit against
Examples
- 。Tā xǐ huan yán jiū gǔ wén huà.He likes to study ancient culture.
- 。Zhè běn gǔ shū shì jǐ bǎi nián qián xiě de.This ancient book was written several hundred years ago.
- 。Wǒ men cān guān le yí zuò gǔ jiàn zhù.We visited an ancient building.
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