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古 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
古gǔsurname GuHSK 5, a, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #3062, Medium
古gǔancientHSK 5, a, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #3062, Medium
古gǔoldHSK 5, a, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #3062, Medium
古gǔpaleo-HSK 5, a, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #3062, Medium
古gǔold, classic, ancientHSK 5, a, 5 strokes, radical 口, rank #3062, Medium
gǔ(gu3) T3
  1. 1ancient
  2. 2old
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
古gǔ(gu3)

The character '古' (gǔ) means 'ancient' or 'old.' It is often used to describe something that is from a long time ago or has historical significance. In contexts like literature, it can refer to classical works or traditions.

Strokes5Radical口Frequency#3062DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

'古' is commonly seen in Chinese historical contexts, such as ancient texts, philosophies, and traditions. The concept of venerating ancient wisdom is significant in Chinese culture, reflecting respect for history.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wise old sage sitting under an ancient tree, representing the character '古.' The left part of the character looks like a tree (木), symbolizing age, while the right side hints at antiquity. Picture 'gǔ' as the sound of the sage's deep voice recounting old tales.

Meanings of 古

gǔ(gu3)
1ancient
2old
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 古

古Simplified
5Strokes
口Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#3062Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3YCTL4HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 古

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Podcast: 古

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AI Study Notes for 古

Quick Contrast

古 (gǔ, ancient) vs 老 (lǎo, old) — use 古 for historical or classical contexts, while 老 is more general and can refer to age in people or things.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a wise old sage sitting under an ancient tree, representing the character '古.' The left part of the character looks like a tree (木), symbolizing age, while the right side hints at antiquity. Picture 'gǔ' as the sound of the sage's deep voice recounting old tales.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of using '古' appropriately in context; it is more formal and often appears in written language. Common collocations include '古代' (gǔdài - ancient times) and '古典' (gǔdiǎn - classical). Avoid confusing it with '老' (lǎo), which is more casual.

HSK Study Tips

Although '古' is not in the official HSK levels, it connects well with other words describing time and history. Focus on its usage in compound words and phrases that relate to history and culture, enhancing vocabulary related to past events.

Cultural Note

'古' is commonly seen in Chinese historical contexts, such as ancient texts, philosophies, and traditions. The concept of venerating ancient wisdom is significant in Chinese culture, reflecting respect for history.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '古' with '老' (old) when describing people. For instance, saying '他很古' (He is very ancient) is incorrect; it should be '他很老' (He is very old).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 古

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Etymology of 古

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Origin unclear. Possibly a pictograph of a shield.

Memory Hint

Words passing through ten 十 mouths 口

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 古?

Decomposition of 古

IDS Structure⿱十口
古Full Character
=
十shi2
top
口kou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 古?

Write 古

古

Practice writing 古 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 古

古 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

自____以来，中国人就非常重视教育。

Since ancient times, Chinese people have placed great importance on education.

Common Confusions with 古

古vs故
gù

Similar pronunciation and shape but different meanings.

古vs谷
gǔ

Same pinyin but different meaning.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "ancient"?

or

Usage Notes for 古

Misunderstanding '古'Common Error

'古' typically refers to something ancient or old, not to be confused with '故' which means cause or reason.

1

这是一件古代的文物。

This is an ancient artifact.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

这是一件____代的文物。

This is an ancient artifact.

Example Sentences for 古 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
你太古板了，其实没什么事。

nǐ tài gǔ bǎn le， ， qí shí méi shí mó。

Now you are coming over all puritanical about nothing.
2
你要知道，我的家人个个古怪得紧。

nǐ yào zhī dào， ， wǒ de jiā rén gè gè gǔ guài dé。

I came from a family that was decidedly oddball you know.
3
旅行的终点是马拉喀什古城。

lǚ háng de zhōng diǎn shì mǎ lā kā shí gǔ chéng。

The journey ends in the ancient city of Marrakesh.
4
科普特教会是最古老的基督教会之一。

kē pǔ tè jiào huì shì zuì gǔ lǎo de jī dū jiào huì zhī yī。

The Coptic Church is among the oldest churches of Christianity.
5
我的猫古斯塔夫是我所有的一切——我唯一的伴侣。

wǒ de māo gǔ sī tǎ fū shì wǒ suǒ yǒu de yī qiē—— —— wǒ wéi yī de bàn。

My cat Gustaf was the only thing I had—the only company.
6
他们认为古代希腊罗马是知识的重要发源地。

tā mén rèn wéi gǔ dài xī là luó mǎ shì zhī shí de zhòng yào fā yuán dì。

They believed ancient Greece and Rome were vital sources of learning.
7
西班牙一直是古巴的主要贸易伙伴之一。

xī bān yá yī zhí shì gǔ bā de zhǔ yào mào yì huǒ bàn zhī yī。

Spain has been one of Cuba's major trading partners.
8
最吸引人注意的是皮埃尔·奥古斯特·雷诺阿的油画。

zuì xī yǐn rén zhù yì de shì pí āi ěr· · ào gǔ sī· tè · léi nuò ā de。

The centre of attraction was Pierre Auguste Renoir's oil painting.
9
铅是早在古代就已知的金属之一。

qiān shì zǎo zài gǔ dài jiù yǐ zhī de jīn shǔ zhī yī。

Lead was one of the metals known to the ancient world.
10
他拉黄包车，这可能是人类最古老的载客服务形式了。

tā lā huáng bāo chē， ， zhè kě néng shì rén lèi zuì gǔ lǎo de zǎi kè fú wù xíng shì。

He pulls a rickshaw, probably the oldest form of human taxi service.

Cultural Notes for 古

🏮Cultural insight

'古' is commonly seen in Chinese historical contexts, such as ancient texts, philosophies, and traditions. The concept of venerating ancient wisdom is significant in Chinese culture, reflecting respect for history.

Word Family of 古

Compounds36
克ke4to be able to
故gu4happening
苦ku3bitter
居ji1surname Ju
胡Hu2surname Hu
姑gu1paternal aunt
估gu1estimate
固gu4hard
辜Gu1surname Gu
咕gu1mumble, mutter, murmur; rumble
枯ku1dried up
骷ku1skeleton
沽Gu1to buy and sell; of inferior quality
钴gu3cobalt; clothes-iron
轱gu1wheel; to revolve, to turn
鸪gu1species of Taiwan pigeon
怙hu4to rely on; to presume; father (formal)
嘏gu3felicity, prosperity; large and strong
岵hu4a wooded hill
牯gu3cow, steer
祜hu4blessings, happiness, prosperity
罟gu3net, snare; to implicate
蛄gu1mole cricket
诂gu3explanation; to comment, to explain
跍
酤gu1to sell liquor
呄
怘
狜
瓳
秙
詁
軲gu1wheel; to revolve, to turn
鈷gu3cobalt; clothes-iron
鮕
鴣gu1species of Taiwan pigeon
Words Containing This Character20
古gǔold
古怪gǔguàieccentric
古巴Cuba
古老gǔlǎoancient
古代gǔdàiancient times
古典gǔdiǎnclassical
古董gǔdǒngcurio
蒙古Mongolia
复古to turn back the clock復古
内蒙古Inner Mongolia內蒙古
古人gǔrénthe ancients
考古kǎogǔarchaeology
古城ancient city
远古antiquity遠古
考古学家archaeologist考古學家
自古(since) ancient times
古板outmoded
古墓old tomb (archaeology)
古迹gǔjìhistorical sites古蹟
古装ancient costume古裝
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 克 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 古

古 (gǔ) refers specifically to something ancient or historical, while 老 (lǎo) means 'old' in a more general sense, often used to describe age. For instance, you would use 老 for people or everyday objects, whereas 古 is reserved for things with historical context.