旧 (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
- 旧,。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.
- 旧。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xíngshēngMost 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
The traditional form of 旧 is 舊, which shows 雈, an owl, above 臼, which gives the sound.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 3 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.