Meanings of 舊
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About 舊
Podcast: 舊
Podcast: 舊
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AI Study Notes for 舊
旧 (jiù) vs 陈旧 (chénjiù) — use 旧 for general oldness, while 陈旧 emphasizes obsolescence or being outdated.
舊 is often used in both formal and informal contexts but can take on a more nostalgic tone when discussing the past. Be careful not to confuse it with 新 (xīn), which means 'new'. Common collocations include 舊衣服 (old clothes) and 舊朋友 (old friends).
Although 舊 is not an HSK word, it is relevant for learners at HSK 3-4 as it frequently appears in conversations about past experiences and objects. Students should focus on using it with appropriate nouns to describe items or memories from the past.
Learners often confuse 舊 with 年輕 (niánqīng, meaning 'young'), mistakenly using 舊 when they mean 'not new'. For example, saying '這是我的舊的朋友' (This is my old friend) is incorrect; it should be '這是我的老朋友' (This is my old friend, with 老 (lǎo) meaning 'old' in the sense of familiarity).
Pronunciation of 舊
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Etymology of 舊
Simplified form of 舊. Phonosemantic compound. 雈 represents the meaning and 臼 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "type of owl". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 舊
Simplified form of 舊. Phonosemantic compound. 雈 represents the meaning and 臼 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "type of owl". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
- 1The sound half臼 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 2On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 舊
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How to say old, ancient; former, past in Chinese
“old, ancient; former, past” in Chinese is舊
舊 (jiù) means 'old' or 'ancient', often referring to things that are no longer in use or have been replaced. It can also denote something from the past or former times, such as memories or traditions. Common contexts include discussing old objects, vintage styles, or previous experiences.
When to use 舊
舊 is often used in both formal and informal contexts but can take on a more nostalgic tone when discussing the past. Be careful not to confuse it with 新 (xīn), which means 'new'. Common collocations include 舊衣服 (old clothes) and 舊朋友 (old friends).
舊 or something close to it
旧 (jiù) vs 陈旧 (chénjiù) — use 旧 for general oldness, while 陈旧 emphasizes obsolescence or being outdated.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 舊 with 年輕 (niánqīng, meaning 'young'), mistakenly using 舊 when they mean 'not new'. For example, saying '這是我的舊的朋友' (This is my old friend) is incorrect; it should be '這是我的老朋友' (This is my old friend, with 老 (lǎo) meaning 'old' in the sense of familiarity).
Write 舊
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Word Family of 舊
Compound Meaning
What does 旧 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 舊
You can say '這是我舊的手機' (This is my old phone) to describe something that has been replaced.
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