Definitions
(adjective)
ancient; old
(noun,adverb)
past time; long ago
Etymology
Depicts a shield. Based on the original meaning "firm, solid", which is now written as 固. The current meaning "old" is a phonetic loan.
About
The character "古", signifying ancient or old, derives from a conceptual composition of the elements for ten and mouth, an etymological construction that implies the passage of narratives through many generations via speech, thus evoking a sense of time beyond immediate recall. Its structural integrity has remained consistent, with the components together forming a ideographic representation of accumulated age through oral tradition. While its primary meaning has steadfastly referred to antiquity, its application has broadened within compound words to encompass notions of the classic, the timeworn, or historical periods, reflecting a semantic stability alongside adaptable usage in the language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这是一本古书。
这座古城很漂亮。
他对古代历史很感兴趣。
那是一个古老的传说。
博物馆里有很多古董。
我们要保护古建筑。
这种技艺是自古相传的。
对古生物的研究需要耐心。