故人 (gù rén) — old friend; (literary) former spouse, often deceased

Definition

Examples

• 多年不见，故人依然记得我。
  Duō nián bú jiàn, gù rén yī rán jì de wǒ.
  After many years without seeing each other, my old friend still remembers me.
• 他写了一首诗怀念已故的故人。
  Tā xiě le yì shǒu shī huái niàn yǐ gù de gù rén.
  He wrote a poem in memory of his late former spouse.
• 在异乡遇到故人，两人都很激动。
  Zài yì xiāng yù dào gù rén, liǎng rén dōu hěn jī dòng.
  Meeting an old friend in a foreign land, both were very excited.

Origin