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古
古
5 strokes
Frequency: 509
JLPT N4
Grade 2

Meanings

old

Readings

On — Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds
コ
Kun — Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words
ふる.い
ふる-
-ふる.す
Nanori — Specialized readings used in names
ふゆ

Common Words

古い
ふるい
旧い
故い
～い Adj.
Freq #1192
1

Of things, not people

old; aged; ancient; antiquated; antique; timeworn

Examples
ケンが使っている机はもう古い。
The desk that Ken uses is old.
2

long; since long ago; time-honored

3

of the distant past; long-ago

4

stale; threadbare; hackneyed; corny

5

old-fashioned; outmoded; out-of-date

古代
こだい
Noun
～の Adj.
Freq #5548
1

ancient times; distant past; antiquity

Examples
古代インカの時代に、アメリカ大陸でもっとも大きい都市であった。
In the days of the ancient Incas, it was the largest city in America.
稽古
けいこ
～する Verb
Noun
Transitive
Freq #5706
1

practice; practising; training; study

Examples
彼女は六歳でピアノのけいこを始めた。
She began lessons in piano at age 6.
古
いにしえ
往古
Noun
Freq #5966
1

Poetical term

antiquity; ancient times; bygone days; former times

古びる
ふるびる
Intransitive
Ichidan verb
Freq #7620
1

to look old; to get old

Examples
けれども、急にめまいがして、再び古びた椅子に座りこんだ。
But he suddenly felt dizzy and he sat down again in his old chair.
古くから
ふるくから
Expression
～の Adj.
Freq #7869
1

from long ago; from old times; from time immemorial

古来
こらい
Adverb
Noun
～の Adj.
Freq #12081
1

from ancient times; from old times; from time immemorial

Examples
彼は古来まれな芸術家だ。
He is as great an artist as lived.
古風
こふう
～な Adj.
Noun
Freq #14876
1

old-fashioned; archaic; antique; antiquated

Examples
私の母はとても古風なんです。
My mother is really of the old school.
名古屋
なごや
Noun
Freq #15133
1

Nagoya (city)

Examples
小学５年の息子が静岡から名古屋の小学校に転入しました。
My fifth-year junior school son has transferred into a school in Nagoya from Shizuoka.
手こずる
てこずる
梃子摺る
手古摺る
手子摺る
梃摺る
Godan verb
Intransitive
Freq #15948
1

to have much trouble; to have a hard time; to not know how to handle

Examples
私はその仕事にてこずった。
I had some trouble with the work.
Search for more words containing 古

Memory Mnemonics

Keywords

The core concepts or meanings associated with this specific kanji.

old gravestone tombstone church

Constituents

The visual building blocks used to craft this character's story.

十 needle
十 ten
口 mouth

Mnemonic Stories

This kanji looks like a tombstone with a cross on top - a reminder of what awaits us all when we get old.

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