Chinese Character: 古
1. Character Basics
Radical: 十/十 (shí, ten)
Stroke Count: 5
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gǔ (Third tone)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: Ancient; old; classical; past; former
The character 古 primarily refers to something ancient, old, or from the past. It is often used to describe things that have a long history or relate to bygone eras. In Chinese culture, 古 carries connotations of respect for tradition and historical heritage.
4. Common Words
- 古代 (gǔdài) - Ancient times; antiquity
中国古代有很多伟大的发明。(Zhōngguó gǔdài yǒu hěnduō wěidà de fāmíng.) - Ancient China had many great inventions.
- 古典 (gǔdiǎn) - Classical; ancient classics
他喜欢听古典音乐。(Tā xǐhuan tīng gǔdiǎn yīnyuè.) - He likes to listen to classical music.
- 古老 (gǔlǎo) - Ancient; old
这座城堡很古老，有几百年的历史了。(Zhè zuò chéngbǎo hěn gǔlǎo, yǒu jǐ bǎinián de lìshǐ le.) - This castle is very old, with a history of several hundred years.
- 古人 (gǔrén) - Ancient people
古人的智慧值得我们学习。(Gǔrén de zhìhuì zhídé wǒmen xuéxí.) - The wisdom of ancient people is worth learning from.
- 古董 (gǔdǒng) - Antique; curio
他收藏了很多珍贵的古董。(Tā shōucángle hěnduō zhēnguì de gǔdǒng.) - He has collected many valuable antiques.
5. Grammar & Usage
Usage as an Adjective: When used as an adjective, 古 describes something as ancient or old.
这是一个古老的传说。(Zhè shì yīgè gǔlǎo de chuánshuō.) - This is an ancient legend.
Usage as a Noun Prefix: 古 is often used as a prefix in compound nouns related to ancient times or classical things.
古典文学是中华文化的瑰宝。(Gǔdiǎn wénxué shì zhōnghuá wénhuà de guībǎo.) - Classical literature is a treasure of Chinese culture.
Common Structures:
- 古典 + [艺术/音乐/文学]: Classical + [art/music/literature]
- 古老的 + [建筑/城市/传统]: Ancient/old + [building/city/tradition]
- 古代的 + [文化/历史/科技]: Ancient + [culture/history/technology]
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the concept of 古 (ancient) holds significant importance. It reflects the deep respect Chinese people have for history, tradition, and the wisdom of their ancestors. Classical Chinese culture, including literature, philosophy, art, and music, is highly valued and continues to influence modern Chinese society.
Many ancient Chinese traditions, such as Confucianism, Taoism, and traditional festivals, are still practiced today. Ancient artifacts and historical sites are considered national cultural heritage and are carefully preserved. The character 古 often appears in the names of cultural institutions, historical sites, and traditional arts, emphasizing their connection to China's rich past.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
这个城市有很多古老的建筑。
(Zhège chéngshì yǒu hěnduō gǔlǎo de jiànzhù.)
This city has many ancient buildings.
Example 2:
他喜欢研究古代历史。
(Tā xǐhuan yánjiū gǔdài lìshǐ.)
He likes to study ancient history.
Example 3:
中国有悠久的古典文学传统。
(Zhōngguó yǒu yōujiǔ de gǔdiǎn wénxué chuántǒng.)
China has a long tradition of classical literature.
8. Memory Tips
1. Break down the character: 古 is composed of 十 (shí, ten) and 口 (kǒu, mouth). You can remember it as "ten mouths" or "stories passed down by many mouths," which relates to ancient traditions passed down through generations.
2. Visual association: Imagine an ancient object, like an old scroll or a historical building, whenever you see the character 古.
3. Word association: Link 古 with words like 古代 (ancient times) or 古老 (ancient) to help reinforce its meaning.
4. Practice writing: Write the character multiple times, focusing on its simple structure. The stroke order is: horizontal, vertical, horizontal, vertical, horizontal (一, 丨, 一, 丨, 一).