(jiù) — (of objects) old, used, worn (not new); (relational) former, previous

Definition

旧 (jiù) means 'old, used, not new' — mainly for objects (旧电脑, 旧鞋), unlike 老 which describes people. 旧 also marks something as former or past (旧书店 = a former/used bookstore).

adjective
(of objects) oldusedworn (not new)(relational) formerprevious

Examples

  • Zhè shuāng xié tài jiù le, wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì shuāng xīn de.
    These shoes are too worn; I want to buy a new pair.
  • Tā mài le yì tái jiù diàn nǎo.
    He sold an old computer.
  • Wǒ men qù le jiù shū diàn.
    We went to a used bookstore.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
huánowl
Sound part声符shēngfú
jiùjiù
Same sound today

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

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