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远古 (yuǎn gǔ) — remote antiquity, ancient times

Definition

A formal, written term meaning 'remote antiquity' — the most distant, prehistoric era, before written records. Stronger and more literary than 上古 (HSK 7), which covers a later stretch of ancient times.

noun
remote antiquityancient times

Examples

  • 远古，。
    Zài yuǎn gǔ shí qī, rén lèi hái méi yǒu wén zì jì lù.
    During remote antiquity, humans had no written records.
  • 远古。
    yuǎn gǔ De shén huà chuán shuō fǎn yìng le gǔ rén duì zì rán de lǐ jiě.
    The myths and legends of remote antiquity reflect ancient people's understanding of nature.
  • 远古。
    Kǎo gǔ xué jiā zài wā jué zhōng fā xiàn le yuǎn gǔ de yí jì.
    Archaeologists discovered relics of remote antiquity during excavations.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

远yuǎnremote
古gǔancient times

远 remote and 古 ancient times combine to mean remote antiquity.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
元
元yuán远yuǎn
Same sound today

远 combines 辶, meaning walk, with 元, used for its sound.

Open 远 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

One reading of 古 sees a shield-like shape above an open mark, showing strength and firmness. Another sees a person spitting out bad-tasting food.

Open 古 →
Appears in
History

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