照旧 (zhào jiù) — as before; as usual; still (in the same way)

Definition

Means 'as before / as usual' — emphasizes that a situation continues unchanged despite change or expectation. Similar in sense to 仍然 (still) but 照旧 keeps focus on the routine itself rather than the action.

adverb
as beforeas usualstill (in the same way)

Examples

  • ,照旧。
    Suī rán huàn le xīn lǐng dǎo, dàn gōng sī de zhì dù zhào jiù.
    Although a new leader has been appointed, the company's rules remain as before.
  • 照旧。
    Tā měi tiān zhào jiù liù diǎn qǐ chuáng pǎo bù.
    He still gets up at six every day to go running, as usual.
  • ,照旧。
    Kǎo shì jié shù le, tú shū guǎn lǐ zhào jiù yǒu hěn duō rén.
    The exams are over, but there are still many people in the library as usual.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

照zhàofollow

照 gives follow and 旧 gives old, so the word means following the old way.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
灬Written in full as火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
昭
昭zhāo照zhào
Same sound today

照 uses 灬, a bottom form of 火 (fire), plus 昭 for the sound.

Open 照 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 舊; 旧 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
雈雈huánowl
Sound part声符shēngfú
臼
臼jiù舊jiù
Same sound today

The traditional form of 旧 is 舊, which shows 雈, an owl, above 臼, which gives the sound.

Open 旧 →
Appears in

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