Chinese Character: 旧
1. Character Basics
Radical: 日/rì (sun/day)
Stroke Count: 5
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiù (fourth tone)
3. Meaning
old, used, worn, former, previous
4. Common Words
- 旧书 (jiù shū) - old book
- 旧衣服 (jiù yī fu) - old clothes
- 旧朋友 (jiù péng you) - old friend
- 旧习惯 (jiù xí guàn) - old habit
- 旧中国 (jiù zhōng guó) - old China
- 新旧 (xīn jiù) - new and old
5. Grammar & Usage
As an adjective: 旧 (old, former), e.g., 这个包很旧了 (This bag is very old)
Often paired with "新" (new): 新旧对比 (comparison between new and old)
In compound words: 旧物 (old things), 旧址 (old site), 旧历 (lunar calendar)
In spoken language: 旧货市场 (flea market), 旧手机 (old mobile phone)
6. Cultural Background
In traditional Chinese culture, old objects often hold special value and are considered carriers of cultural heritage
Old books, antiques, and artifacts are highly respected as they represent history and wisdom
Some traditional customs involve keeping old items for good luck and continuity
The concept of "cherishing the old" is reflected in proverbs like "衣不如新，人不如旧" (Clothes are better new, but friends are better old)
In recent years, retro and nostalgic culture has become popular among young people
7. Example Sentence
Chinese: 这是我的旧书包。
Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ de jiù shū bāo.
Translation: This is my old schoolbag.
8. Memory Tips
The character 旧 consists of a vertical stroke (丨) and the radical 日 (sun/day)
Imagine the sun rising above the horizon, which has been happening for a long time (old)
The character has 5 strokes
Remember that 旧 shares the 日 component with other characters related to time or light
Notice that 旧 is similar in pronunciation to 就 (jiù), but has a different meaning